Mike Tomlin was not going to let the Steelers pass on offensive tackle Troy Fautanu

Tyler Lauletta

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Mike Tomlin was not going to let the Steelers pass on offensive tackle Troy Fautanu image

The Pittsburgh Steelers made the most of their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, selecting Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu with the 20th overall pick.

The selection addresses an immediate need for the Steelers, who have struggled to build a reliable offensive line in recent years.

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After the selection, general manager Omar Khan spoke with media, and brought up the fact that Pittsburgh had had the opportunity to trade down from No. 20. According to Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune, before Khan could complete the point, head coach Mike Tomlin interrupted, saying “We weren't moving off Troy.”

Tomlin had a lot of high praise for the Steelers’ latest addition, citing Fautanu’s versatile ability on the line.

It’s the second straight year the Steelers have spent their first-round pick on an offensive tackle, with Pittsburgh selecting Georgia’s Broderick Jones with the 14th overall pick in 2023. Jones was a starter on the Pittsburgh line by Week 5 of the season.

Tyler Lauletta

Tyler Lauletta Photo

Tyler Lauletta has been working in sports media for nearly a decade, with stops at Business Insider and Sports Illustrated. Residing just outside Philadelphia, he is a recovering Truster of the Process and remains a sicko for the Eagles, Sixers and Phillies. He’s covered the Super Bowl and World Series from the press box and hopes to finagle his way into Wimbledon in the near future. You can follow him on X/Twitter @tylerlauletta.