Steelers fans *really* loved the Troy Fautanu pick

The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Pittsburgh Steelers seem to have found the first-round pick to appease (almost) everyone with offensive tackle Troy Fautanu. Earlier this week, we asked Steelers fans to grade the Round 1 selection, and the results were telling, with 77% of fans assigning an “A” grade and 19% of fans grading the pick a “B”.

In other news, it would appear that at least 2% of Steelers fans may have fat-fingered the poll, because there’s no way there are fans are grading this pick a “D” or an “F”, regardless of how you’d prioritize draft needs. From a needs perspective or best player available perspective, Fautanu’s selection was a hit.

It’s also safe to say that the Steelers made their fans happier than most franchises who picked outside of the top 10. Fautanu was one of just seven prospects drafted between picks No. 11 and 32 to receive an A grade from 75% or higher from their respective fan base in SB Nation’s polls sitewide.

What do fans like so much about Fautanu?

Well, for starters, he’s another anchor on the new-look offensive line that Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have been carefully assembling over the past two seasons. Having ranked well inside the top-15 on most consensus draft boards, it seemed like a miracle he was even available by the Steelers’ pick at No. 1. Perhaps some concerns stem from the fact that he’s on the shorter side for a tackle at 6’3 3/4”, but it’s been said that the Steelers view him as a tackle… so we’ll roll with it, considering he makes up with it in other ways, including his lengthy arms and explosive athleticism.

For another, he’s a Steelers fan. For real. Literally! When asked how excited he is to be wearing black and gold in his opening presser, Fautanu shared, “I grew up a Troy Polamalu fan. I wore 43 pretty much my whole life until I had to switch to o-line, and I couldn’t wear it. Just growing up, being a fan of the Steelers, and you know, when Ben [Roethlisberger] was there… I know a lot about the team and a lot about the history. So, I’m just super excited to finally, you know, kind of get this over with and it couldn’t have been any better that it was with the team I grew up loving.”

Fautanu couldn’t have a more-Steelers-esque love for football, either, sharing, “It’s all I think about. Football is all I think about. Football is all I know. Especially, playing offensive line, you’ve really got to love the sport in order to do what we do in the trenches and it’s something I take pride in and something I enjoyed.”

Black and gold runs through his veins — it’s confirmed. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Troy!

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