SB Nation Mock Draft: The New Orleans Saints select OT Troy Fautanu from Washington

New Orleans looks to shore up the offensive line in the first round for the second time in three years.

With the 14th pick in the 2024 SB Nation writers’ mock draft, the New Orleans Saints select Offensive Tackle Troy Fautanu from Washington.

Originally from Henderson, Nev., Fantanu attended Liberty High School playing both football and volleyball; he was rated a three-star recruit by ESPN and handed a four-star grade by 247 Sports. Following high school, he committed to play at the University of Washington.

Fautanu played four seasons for the Huskies. In 2022, he had a breakout season, starting all 13 games. In Week 3, he was named the PAC-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week and was named to the second-team All Pac-12. In 2023, Fautanu was named to the first-team All Pac-12 and third-team AP All-American teams. He also won the Morris Trophy for the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12 and the Joe Moore Award, which is awarded annually to the best college football offensive line unit.

On Jan. 8, Washington lost to Michigan in the 2024 NCAA National Championship. Two days after the game, Fauteau declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.

The 6’4, 317-pound lineman is a versatile player who can play at both tackle and guard and on either side of the line. He is a big, physical guy who can move well. At the 2024 NFL combine, Fautanu ran an official 5.01-second 40-yard dash.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Fautanu as his top guard available in the 2024 NFL Draft.

“Fautanu really impressed me in 2023. He played 114 snaps at guard over the past three years, but the majority of his time has been at left tackle, where he has allowed just two sacks and 25 total pressures in 28 starts. That’s on more than 1,100 pass-blocking snaps. He is a hard-nosed, intense tackle, but he plays under control and has excellent feet and strong hands. He kept the pocket clean for quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who was sacked just 11 times in 15 games. I see Fautanu’s future at guard as a way to best maximize his skill set, but I’m not ruling out that he’ll end up at tackle. He reminds me a little bit of Alijah Vera-Tucker, who went No. 14 overall to the Jets in 2021. Fautanu’s versatility will be a huge asset at the next level.”

DraftKings Sportsbook had Fautanu with +2800 odds to be the first lineman taken off the board. Even though we took him at 14, I believe that we got a great player who could outshine the other linemen who were taken before him in this mock draft.

In light of the recent news regarding Ryan Ramczyk’s knee injury not progressing as expected, the Saints are in need of someone at tackle on an offensive line that currently consists of Ramczyk, Trevor Penning, Landon Young, and Olisaemeka Udoh.

One of their biggest priorities this year should be keeping Derek Carr healthy. In 2023, Carr was sacked 31 times, leading to multiple injuries throughout the season. I think Fauteau could be a Day 1 starter that could add help cure some of the issues that have plagued the offensive line and run game the past few years, especially with the changes that will be coming from new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.