Steelers' TJ Watt Helped Turn Former First-Round Pick Into An Absolute Stud

The Pittsburgh Steelers are completely aware that the game of football is won in the trenches. That's why the team has spent so much money and draft capital to load up on those positions and keep its stars happy. With every passing year, progress is made, and it looks like the offensive and defensive line have both taken big jumps together in the 2025 season. However, there is still a lot to work on here. Organizations can't just have half a season of some growth and think it's good enough. 

However, one young player has quietly risen above everyone else: right tackle Troy Fautanu. After missing almost his entire rookie season to an unfortunate knee injury, he has come out firing and helping to make life easy on his 41-year-old quarterback. He has not allowed a sack through eight games, and he is establishing himself as an elite offensive lineman.

Fautanu did not just magically get to that point. Insider Brian Batko pointed out a key detail from training camp that helped shape the former first-round pick into the stud he is now.

"Considering Fautanu spent much of his July and August trying to win one-on-one reps against T.J. Watt, it’s not as if he hasn’t prepared for the assignment," Batko wrote. "But living up to it is what could make this young offensive line go from work in progress to playoff caliber."

When you're spending every day of a month playing on an island against a generational talent, you're going to have to either adapt or die. Fautanu more than adjusted to the greatness of TJ Watt; he was able to turn those practices into great habits and expert technique that allowed him to work against any pass rusher in the league, including the interior ones.

After Week 9, Fautanu finally started getting the respect he deserves. That was because he went viral for helping out utility lineman Spencer Anderson with a brutal block to knock down elite pass rusher DeForest Buckner. Now that that has circulated the internet, he is starting to become more of a household name. 

Not everything came from playing against Watt, but Fautanu's ability to slow him down definitely made the offensive coaching staff feel more comfortable about leaving him one-on-one against any pass rusher in the NFL. That is a challenge that very few right tackles have ever succeeded in — possibly none. This second-year player and former first-round pick has figured it out, though.

Even though the former Defensive Player of the Year has not produced as much as before, he still has the ability to single-handedly destroy a gameplan if he is left one-on-one against anyone. Teams gameplan against him by chipping him and double-teaming him, then getting the ball out quickly. Whenever a team makes the mistake of leaving him on an island, they automatically lose the whole game.

Steelers Went Against All Trends To Pick Fautanu Early In 2024 NFL Draft

Usually, the rule of thumb for the Steelers is that Head Coach Mike Tomlin and whoever the general manager is at the time have to personally attend the prospect's Pro Day for them to feel comfortable with selecting him. However, they never went to Fautanu's and instead trusted college scout Mark Bruener on his word. Sometimes, bucking trends and taking risks pays off in the end, like with this steal of a first pick.

What do you think about Fautanu becoming a high-end right tackle with some help from facing Watt repeatedly? Let us know in the comments or on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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