If you’ve spent any time looking at mock drafts, you’ve probably heard UW Huskies offensive tackle Troy Fautanu connected to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 16 overall.
UW OL Fautanu gives his thoughts on shifting to guard in the NFL.
Analysts believe Fautanu will stay in the Pacific Northwest and rejoin new Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff, both of whom he played for in college. Fautanu joined Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Friday for a full discussion ahead of the NFL Draft, which begins this Thursday.
Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob listened in on Fautanu’s conversation and later provided their impressions on what they heard and his fit with Seattle.
“It makes a lot of sense,” former Seahawks linebacker Dave Wyman stated. “… I believe he is really athletic, with excellent pad level. “He’s quite refined.”
Wyman stated that one of the most prevalent challenges most offensive lineman have while transitioning to the NFL is the necessity to improve their pad level.
“You think you’re low in college; you aren’t. “You need to get lower,” Wyman remarked. “There are a lot of things you need to do, but he seems so focused that he’ll get it done. I believe it would be the safest bet there, but I doubt (general manager) John (Schneider) would choose him because of that. I believe it is because he believes he is the best football player, a better guard than anyone else at any position.
Many draft analysts believe Fautanu will eventually play guard in the NFL, and it appears like he would suit best with the Seahawks. However, Fautanu played left tackle for the Huskies and still considers himself a tackle.
“At the end of the day, I do think I’m a tackle,” Fautanu told Brock and Salk. “I have heard that a lot. I’ve heard both, but tackle has been the most common. But there are guys in the NFL who have been around for a while, so you have to be realistic and find a place where you fit in.
Wyman and her co-host, Bob Stelton, thought Fautanu’s forthright response refreshing.
Stelton praised the openness of the player’s response, noting that it is common to ask players who play numerous positions where they want to play. They inevitably say, ‘I’ll play wherever. I don’t care. Which is fantastic. That’s what a coach wants to hear, but it’s intriguing to hear him say, “I think I’m a tackle, but I’ll play guard.”
Seattle has two powerful, young tackles in Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, and it reconnected with tackle George Fant this offseason. However, there is considerable anxiety about Lucas. Throughout 2023, he suffered a nagging knee injury and only played six games.
Fautanu’s adaptability appears to be an ideal match for those conditions. He might start it at guard and then move to tackle if necessary.
“I kind of subscribe to what (former Seahawks offensive lineman) Ray (Roberts) talks about,” Wyman said in an interview. “He wants someone there who is an expert, and (Fautanu) excels at that. He’s so athletic that he could play any position on the line.”
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