2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Troy Fautanu

Prospect Summary:

Fautanu served as a backup for three seasons with the Huskies before breaking into the starting lineup during the 2022 season. He then locked down the left tackle position for two years and was very reliable in protecting the front side of left-handed quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Fautanu had an excellent senior season in helping Washington get all the way to the National Championship game.

There is no doubt that Fautanu is extremely athletic for an offensive lineman. He is a smooth glider with excellent agility and nimble movement skills. Fautanu very rapidly fires out of his stance and has a burst to the second level. Thanks to his quick feet and agility, Fautanu is able to stay square on speed rushers and neutralize them from running around the edge. With his excellent athleticism, Fautanu is a natural knee bender who does not have to reach after edge rushers because his feet and bending get him in proper position. While Fautanu lacks a little height, he does have 35-inch arms, and that plus length is helpful for him to keep pass rushers at bay. Fautanu uses his length to help sustain blocks and tie up defenders.

In pass blocking, Fautanu can have some mental lapses at times, and he is going to need coaching to be ready for games that NFL defenses are going to throw at him. His anchor to hold up against bull rushes is just okay as well. Strong pro ends could have some success with a bull rush riding him backward, so Fautanu is going to need to improve his anchor for the next level.

In the ground game, Fautanu is a good fit for a zone-blocking scheme. His speed and athleticism let him move well as part of the moving wall. He will quickly get to linebackers off the snap along with peeling off defensive linemen and then hitting a linebacker to help open a hole.

While he blocks hard, Fautanu is limited and is not a true bull who can overpower defenders at the line of scrimmage. Fautanu fights, but he is not a people mover who can drive defenders backward off the ball through sheer power. Fautanu’s body might be maxed out given his height, so he could be limited in being able to add more power and develop a better anchor.

Given Fautanu’s limitations with a lack of height and power, some evaluators think he might need to move inside to guard for the NFL. A team could draft Fautanu with the hopes that he can stay at tackle and then have a backup plan of moving him inside if he struggles on the edge.

In the 2024 NFL Draft, Fautanu could go as high as the back half of the first round and should not get out of the second round if he slips to Friday night of the draft.