Former first-round pick Troy Fautanu is open to playing left or right tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. But he doesn’t want to play guard.
Fautanu made that clear while speaking to reporters on the team’s first day of offseason workouts Monday.
“I mean, I don’t want to play guard,” Fautanu said while cracking a smile. “But if I have to, I can. So, yeah.”
Fautanu mostly started at left tackle during his college career at Washington. But he also made some college starts at left guard.
Last season, Fautanu started every game at right tackle for the Steelers.
Troy Fautanu Admits He Doesn’t Want to Play Guard
The Steelers offensive line is in flux this offseason for a few different reasons. Because of that, where Fautanu could start this fall is uncertain.
In the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers picked tackle Max Iheanachor. At Arizona State, Iheanachor played left tackle, but the team could be planning for the rookie to play at right tackle with Fautanu flipped to the left side.
However, Broderick Jones could also be a factor for the Steelers offensive line. Jones began last season as the team’s starting left tackle, but he sustained a season-ending neck injury on November 23.
If Jones returns healthy and Iheanachor is ready to play this fall, some pundits have speculated Fautanu could move to left guard. The Steelers lost starting left guard Isaac Seumalo in NFL free agency this offseason.
But clearly, Fautanu isn’t a fan of that idea.
The third-year lineman admitted he didn’t want to play guard at the very end of his media session Monday. But prior to that, he also hinted at the idea he’s against playing guard.
When asked if he had a preference for left or right tackle, Fautanu simply answered: “tackle.”
Fautanu also stated he hasn’t taken any repetitions at guard this offseason.
Fautanu Wants to Play Next to Mason McCormick
Fautanu was honest about not wanting to play guard for the Steelers. The tackle was also blunt about who he would prefer to play next to this fall too.
Last season, Fautanu started every game next to right guard Mason McCormick. In a perfect world, Fautanu would like that to be the case again in 2026.
“Me and Mason have chemistry. I mean, playing last year together. He’s been able to help me out a lot in terms of being able to play fast and being very communicative from when things are loud and Zach [Frazier] is dealing with everything that he has to deal with. Mason is right there to help me out,” said Fautanu.
“We haven’t really talked too much about that (playing McCormick next to Fautanu), but obviously, I would love for that to happen. I tell Mason all the time, ‘I wouldn’t want to play next to anybody else.'”
The Steelers drafted Fautanu and McCormick in the same draft class two years ago. The team picked Fautanu at No. 20 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. McCormick was the No. 119 selection in the fourth round.
Ironically, the Steelers picked starting center Zach Frazier in the same class during the second round. All three could start next to each other again for the second consecutive year in 2026.
It’s just not clear which tackle position Fautanu might play.
Steelers’ Troy Fautanu Spills Truth on a Potential Position Switch