The Pittsburgh Steelers have made it clear in recent years that their draft strategy revolves around fortifying the trenches, a philosophy that has taken center stage since Omar Khan assumed the role of general manager in 2022, alongside assistant GM Andy Weidl. This approach was evident in their first-round selections of offensive linemen in 2023 and 2024, followed by the addition of defensive lineman Derrick Harmon at No. 21 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, per ESPN’s draft tracker. Harmon, a Michigan State product with 4.5 sacks and 40 tackles in 2024, per Sports-Reference, adds depth to a defensive line that ranked 15th in the NFL with 44 sacks last season, per Pro Football Reference. The Steelers’ message is unmistakable—they aim to build a physical, dominant team capable of controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
In 2023, the Steelers traded up to select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones at No. 14 overall, a move that saw them send a fourth-round pick to the Patriots, per NFL.com’s transaction log. Despite his pedigree as a natural left tackle—where he started 15 games at Georgia, allowing just 2 sacks, per Pro Football Focus—Jones has yet to settle into that role consistently in Pittsburgh. He played primarily at right tackle in 2023 and 2024, starting 17 games over two seasons but struggling with penalties (9 in 2024) and pass protection, allowing 5 sacks, per PFF. The team plans to move him to left tackle in 2025, a pivotal year for the 23-year-old as he enters his third season, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly. On the right side, 2024 first-round pick Troy Fautanu, selected No. 20 overall out of Washington, is expected to anchor the line after missing most of his rookie year due to a knee injury sustained in the first preseason game—a dislocated kneecap that required surgery, sidelining him for the entire regular season, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on September 21, 2024.
A strong offensive line is central to Pittsburgh’s offensive identity, which emphasizes a punishing ground game paired with play-action passing. The Steelers ranked 9th in rushing yards per game (135.2) in 2024, led by Najee Harris’ 1,035 yards, per NFL.com, but their passing game struggled, averaging 186.1 yards per game (26th), per the same source. A healthy and effective duo of Jones and Fautanu could elevate both facets, providing better protection for the quarterback—whether it’s Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, or another option amid the team’s ongoing uncertainty at the position—and opening lanes for Harris and Jaylen Warren in the run game. The Steelers’ quarterback situation remains unresolved, with Rodgers, acquired in a 2025 trade, posting a 62.1% completion rate and 8.1 yards per attempt in limited action, per ESPN, while Rudolph, a free agent, threw for 2,231 yards in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
Team insider Mark Kaboly, in a recent mailbag on X, expressed optimism about Fautanu’s recovery and potential impact, writing, “When I talked to him at the end of the year, he said he’s fine and ready to go. He’s going to be a huge addition to this team this year. Mark my words on that.” Kaboly went further when asked about an under-the-radar impact player, stating, “Fautanu. Guy is going to be a star for a decade, and that will start this year.” Fautanu, who allowed just 1 sack in 15 starts at Washington in 2023, per PFF, brings versatility and athleticism, having played both tackle and guard in college. His 6-foot-4, 317-pound frame and 4.87-second 40-yard dash make him a prototypical fit for Pittsburgh’s scheme, per NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
The Steelers’ investment in their offensive line extends beyond Jones and Fautanu. Their 2024 draft class included center Zach Frazier (No. 51 overall) and guard Mason McCormick (No. 119), both of whom showed promise as rookies. Frazier started 13 games, earning an 81.2 run-blocking grade, third among centers, per PFF, while McCormick, primarily a backup, played 312 snaps and allowed just 1 sack, per the same source. Together, they form a young core that could anchor the line for years, complementing veterans like James Daniels, who remains a steady presence at right guard with a 74.5 overall grade in 2024, per PFF.
While Fautanu enters 2025 with high expectations, he’ll likely be given some leeway as a relative newcomer to the NFL, having played only 12 snaps in the 2024 preseason before his injury, per Pro Football Reference. Jones, however, faces greater scrutiny. Now in his third year, he’s at a critical juncture—if he underperforms at left tackle, the Steelers may decline his fifth-year option in the 2026 offseason, a decision worth $14.2 million, per Spotrac. Jones’ inconsistency, particularly with penalties and pass protection, has drawn criticism, with Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora noting on April 27, 2025, that “Jones needs to clean up his technique—he’s got the tools but hasn’t put it together yet.” The pressure is on for Jones to prove he can be the long-term solution at left tackle, especially as Fautanu is projected to solidify the right side.
For Pittsburgh, establishing a dominant rushing attack in 2025 is essential, especially given the uncertainty at quarterback. The NFL’s modern offenses require frequent passing—teams averaged 34.2 pass attempts per game in 2024, per TeamRankings—making quarterback protection crucial. Jones and Fautanu will be tasked with sealing the edges in the run game while keeping the pocket clean for whoever is under center. If both can step up, alongside Frazier and McCormick, the Steelers’ offensive line could become a cornerstone of their identity, setting them up to compete in a tough AFC North where the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns all made the playoffs in 2024, per NFL.com. The potential for Fautanu to be a decade-long star, as Kaboly predicts, offers hope that Pittsburgh’s trench-focused strategy will pay dividends for years to come.
