The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted T Troy Fautanu not as a need but as a want. While they had a need at tackle, they drafted him over needs at other positions because they valued him highly. How else do you explain starting a rookie offensive lineman who missed most of training camp and the preseason?
That wasn’t just about losing confidence in Broderick Jones—it was the Steelers’ belief in Troy Fautanu as a foundation. They believe he will anchor their offensive line for the next several years—perhaps not a decade, given his age, but it’s not impossible.
The Steelers believed in him enough that they floated the idea of him returning for the postseason.