Ray Fittipaldo Believes Steelers Expect OT to Take His Playing to Another Level in 2026
The Steelers have been experimenting with their offensive line this offseason. They moved Troy Fautanu to left tackle and Mason McCormick to left guard. They switched Dylan Cook to right tackle and Spencer Anderson to right guard. The team decided to switch Fautanu to the left side this year because there’s still uncertainty with Broderick Jones due to his neck injury.
According to beat writer Ray Fittipaldo, the Steelers expect Fautanu to take his playing to another level this year, who spoke about the transition during his appearance on 93.7 The Fan’s Pomp and Joe Show on Friday. He explained, “I actually think he’s gonna settle in and play really well over there. They wouldn’t have made that move if they didn’t think he could be like a Pro Bowl level player over there.” He added, “I think that’s the expectation going into this season. He’s moving positions, he’s going from one side to the other, but I think the Steelers expect him to play at a high level, and I think he will.” Fittipaldo remarked, “I think he’s a really talented guy. We saw that last season when he was injury-free, and I think he’s gonna do a really good job as Aaron Rodgers’ blindside protector.”
Fautanu hasn’t played at left tackle in the NFL. However, the 2023 Morris Trophy winner played left tackle in college for the Washington Huskies. After being selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he transitioned to right tackle. Injuries caused him to miss the majority of his rookie season. The Washington alumnus remained at right tackle in 2025, earning praise for shining at training camp. During the 2025 regular season, the 25-year-old played 1,031 snaps. Pro Football Focus gave him a pass blocking grade of 71 and a run blocking grade of 56.4, which gave him an overall grade of 66.7.
During organized team activities in May, offensive line coach James Campen talked about moving Fautanu to left tackle. Campen said, “The thing with him is he just naturally goes over and starts using his left sets and those kinda things. Sometimes as coaches, we take that for granted. I think, at times, we just say, ‘Well, just go over there and put your left hand down.’ Well, try writing left-handed if you’re right-handed. It’s not as easy as you think.”
Steelers Now’s Derrick Bell also has high expectations for Fautanu. In May, he ranked the 25-year-old as the third-best Steelers player in 2026. Bell explained, “He allowed pressure on just 6.1% of his pass-blocking snaps last season, fifth-best among right tackles with at least 200 reps, per Next Gen Stats. Keep in mind that this all occurred in what was essentially his rookie season while swapping sides in the process. His explosiveness stands out in a major way on film, and his hands are extremely fast and skilled, with a snatch-trap technique that he deploys against power rushers attempting to work down his midline. Throughout the season, Fautanu made some impact blocks in the zone run game, but I want to see him sustain blocks later in the rep at a higher clip come fall. He’s still only scratching the surface of what he could become, and that’s contending for the best tackle in Steelers franchise history.”
Switching to a different side isn’t easy. However, Fautanu’s skill set and college background should make the transition to left tackle smooth. Having McCormick as left guard will help because the two worked on the right side last season. If the 25-year-old excels in his new role, he could become the Steelers’ long-term left tackle.
