Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu ready for fresh start as bookend tackles for Steelers

They each played left tackle in college but were moved to the other bookend position on the offensive line after joining the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The transition was natural for Troy Fautanu, not so much for Broderick Jones. Still, the former first-round draft picks experienced challenges in the early stages of their NFL careers.

Order — and perhaps stability — has been restored to the Steelers’ line this season, with Jones shifting back to his more familiar spot on the left side and Fautanu returning at right tackle after an injury-shortened rookie year.

It was the way the Steelers envisioned it when they traded up to select Jones with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2023 draft and then took Fautanu at No. 20 in 2024. It just took awhile for the organization to get there.

Envisioned as the left tackle of the future, Jones had to wait for Dan Moore to exit in free agency before getting his opportunity. After missing all but one game last year because of a knee injury, Fautanu is the starting right tackle.

“I feel like we knew all along that this was going to happen,” Fautanu said during the first week of organized team activities. “This is what was communicated to us before we all left when the season ended. I don’t think it’s too big of a surprise. Now, it’s settling into our spots and getting used to the person playing next to you.”

For Jones, that means taking snaps next to veteran left guard Isaac Seumalo. For Fautanu, that means playing alongside right guard Mason McCormick, a fellow 2024 draftee who stepped in for an injured James Daniels last season and will retain that starting spot in 2025.

“Being back on the left side, it’s just trying to get used to everything and getting that second-hand nature back with everything that is going on over there,” Jones said. “It’s making sure everything is right in my head and not thinking I’m on the right side. This is a great time for me to keep building on what I’ve done all offseason, and all my life, really.”

Jones had just 19 career starts — all at left tackle — when he left Georgia early and declared for the NFL Draft in 2023. In two seasons with the Steelers, he’s started just once on that side of the formation — and that occurred in Week 5 of his rookie year. His other 26 starts were at right tackle. At times, he looked out of place, and he was credited with allowing 11 sacks in 2024, the most of any NFL right tackle. The only worse offender was Moore on the left side (12 sacks).

“At first it did (feel comfortable),” Jones said. “When they initially moved me to right tackle and playing it for so long … then they tried to make me the swing tackle. It was kind of funky. I knew I would be going back to left. This offseason, I focused on nothing but the left side.”

And Fautanu has focused exclusively on playing right tackle since offseason workouts began. At Washington, Fautanu made 27 starts in his final two seasons at left tackle. The Huskies had a left-handed quarterback in future first-round pick Michael Penix, so Fautanu was never tasked with protecting the passer’s blind side.

A switch to the right side in the pros was anticipated, and Fautanu did well enough early in training camp that he was on the verge of unseating Jones for the starting job. Then, Fautanu injured his knee, a setback that lagged into the regular season.

Upon returning to health, Fautanu started in place of Jones for Week 2 against Denver. Then, he reinjured the knee, dislocating a kneecap and tearing his MCL, and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.

“There were nights sitting in my room and wondering if I’m coming back,” Fautanu said. “A whole lot of thoughts were going through my head. I made it through that, and it made me stronger. That is what is going to fuel me to play the best I can for this team.”

Expectations, though, haven’t waned for Fautanu. Coach Mike Tomlin wants second-year players to make significant improvements from their rookie season. Fautanu is no exception even if he did appear in just one game last year.

“I can’t go out and do first-year things,” Fautanu said. “That is the expectation I have for myself, too. I’ve been ready for this for a long time.”

By using back-to-back first-round picks on tackles while also expending draft capital on center Zach Frazier and McCormick, the Steelers showed a commitment to the offensive line in the 2023-24 drafts. It’s illustrative of the confidence the organization has in those pieces that the Steelers didn’t use a draft pick this spring on an offensive lineman.

“There is an expectation behind that,” Fautanu said. “They count on us to do our jobs at a high level.”

Jones arguably has the most financial incentive because of his switch back to left tackle. The Steelers must decide next spring whether to exercise the fifth-year option in his contract. A good year could net Jones about $17 million in 2027.

“Broderick is strong. He can move. He has all the tools,” said outside linebacker Nick Herbig, who has lined up across from Jones in practice. “I expect big things out of him this year.”

After playing last season at 325-330 pounds, Jones said he reported to offseason workouts weighing 305. His plan is to gain weight when needed rather than shed it during training camp.

Jones realizes what is at stake.

“My confidence is always high,” he said. “Being back on the left side is a bigger boost to me just because I’ve been used to playing on the left side. Being out here playing against Alex (Highsmith) and Nick (Herbig), it helps with my confidence level. When you’re able to block guys like that, you feel like you can do it against guys at any level.”

Fautanu hasn’t gotten any matchups in practice yet with T.J. Watt, who has skipped voluntary workouts. That will come in time. So will developing a rapport with McCormick at right guard.

“Mason is a very communicative person,” Fautanu said. “He’s making sure I’m on the same page as him, and Zach is doing an absolutely great job at settling the table. Right now, this is a good time for us to jell and be comfortable playing next to each other.”