Pittsburgh Steelers OT Troy Fautanu missed practically the whole thing of his rookie season with a knee damage, however the Steelers are counting on a second-year bounceback. NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks thinks they’ll get one, as Brooks put Fautanu on his 2025 breakout workforce.
“Due to a knee damage, Fautanu performed in only one sport as a rookie. Now, although, he has an opportunity to earn Professional Bowl consideration as a first-time starter, due to his distinctive expertise and polished method. He’s a pure edge blocker with the steadiness, physique management and lateral quickness to successfully shadowbox move rushers in house,” Brooks wrote.
Becoming a member of Fautanu on the breakout workforce is his fellow 2024 draftee in C Zach Frazier. Frazier had a formidable rookie marketing campaign, and Brooks expects him to construct upon that.
“From Frazier’s rugged play as a run-blocker to his fast palms and stout “brief units” in move safety, he possesses the instruments to emerge as a perennial Professional Bowler in Pittsburgh,” he wrote.
On condition that Frazier performed like among the finest facilities in soccer final season, a “breakout” from him would actually simply represent rising as the very best heart within the league. Frazier was actually good as a rookie, and constructing upon that might be large for Pittsburgh’s offensive line.
Fautanu performed effectively in his one sport final season, and was drawing lots of reward for a way he appeared in coaching camp. However a preseason damage adopted by a dislocated kneecap suffered in follow reduce his season brief, and accidents may wind up being a priority with Fautanu. Given their relative lack of offensive sort out depth, the Steelers not solely want Fautanu to play effectively, however to remain on the sphere.
If he is ready to keep wholesome, it wouldn’t be a shock if Fautanu did stand out subsequent season. He has the instruments to be a very proficient offensive sort out, and the little bit he confirmed final season was nonetheless sufficient to get excited for the long run. There’s little doubt that Fautanu continues to be an unknown, and that may be regarding, however the potential is there for him to interrupt out.
Proper now, Pittsburgh’s offensive sort out scenario is considered one of its largest query marks, but when Fautanu has a season worthy of Professional Bowl consideration like Brooks predicts, then the workforce must be simply high quality on the place. It might additionally strengthen the offensive line as a complete, which can go a good distance towards serving to the Steelers lastly having constant offensive success.
