The Steelers have very quietly started to accumulate a good amount of young talent. Some of those players have broken out already, like Jaylen Warren and Zach Frazier, and former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz believes Troy Fautanu will do the same this season.
On a recent episode of The GM Shuffle, Schwartz rattled off a handful of players he believes are poised to break out in 2026. Fautanu was among the names he mentioned.
“I think he’s going to be the left tackle for Pittsburgh this season and go back to his natural position where he was in college and just kick ass,” Schwartz said.
In his first full season playing right tackle, Fautanu was rock solid for the Steelers. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed just two sacks in 2025 and just four hits allowed. For a player who spent the entire season at a relatively new position, it was a great showing.
Now flipping back to his natural side of the left following Broderick Jones’ injury, Schwartz is predicting even more success.
Former Carolina Panthers general manager Marty Hurney also got in on the Fautanu praise, saying he “loved him” as a player.
“Yes, he can be a breakout and if he can go to left tackle that’s for sure,” Hurney said.
Both co-hosts expressed some concern for Fautanu’s size, wondering if he would be a better fit at guard. Ultimately, they seem to agree that the move to left tackle is the best for him.
The Steelers are certainly hoping that Schwartz and Hurney are correct. Following Jones’ neck injury injury, the team drafted Max Iheanchor, a lifelong right tackle, in the first round. That puts a lot of onus on Fautanu, whom the team is hoping can handle protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blindside. However, with years of experience on the blindside, it hopefully should be like riding a bike for the former first-round pick.
If not, it could be a bumpy road for Rodgers in 2027.
