Troy Fautanu Mocks to Dallas Cowboys

Washington left tackle Troy Fautanu made a big jump on his 2023 game film.

Mainly, he’s noticeably stronger looking.

Headed into the 2023 season, I had a sixth-round grade on Fautanu, but with the Cowboys’ left tackle Tyron Smith not in the team’s plans, this puzzle piece fits. The more I watch Fautanu, the more he grows on me.

Undoubtedly, running back is a need for the Cowboys, but there is no substitute for left tackle prospects, and they don’t grow on trees. Dallas has stood pat in the beginning stages of free agency at the left tackle, which tells me they likely will target the position in the opening round.

Fautanu

BIG

LONG ARMS

UBER ATHLETIC

EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE

Pass protection

Fautanu’s aggressive nature makes him extremely competitive while blocking in pass protection. In other words, it’s not always pretty, but it’s often effective. His technique ⎯is somewhat raw.

He is not the prototype ⎯smooth ballerina footwork franchise left tackle. It’s his footwork that gets him in some sticky situations but he was still able to win because of the tremendous effort he always gives.

Fautanu has a glaring tendency to stop sliding his feet at the halfway point of his drop into the perimeter of the pocket when he locks horns with pass rushers. From there, he sometimes lowers his head and loses even more leverage and ends up in a chase position, where suddenly the pass rusher has all the leverage heading toward the quarterback.

Fautanu is not textbook out in space pass-protecting when he’s out there on that proverbial island one-on-one. Sometimes he can get too aggressive even and overextend leaving himself susceptible to spin moves by pass rushers back to the inside.

Per Pro Football Focus, in the past two seasons combined, Fautanu has participated in 1,231 pass protection plays and has surrendered two sacks, five quarterback hits, and 31 hurries. The 31 hurries confirm what the film shows ⎯Fautanu has heavier feet, thick calves, and average football lateral football playing speed in pads.

This is something teams need to be aware of.

Run blocking

That same lack of polished technique shows up in the run-blocking department as well. Fautanu pushes and shoves. He’s not the classic controlling run-sustaining lock-up type.

Fautanu wins on effort and with positional leverage.

Sometimes it’s enough and sometimes it’s not.

Winning

Can a team win with Fautanu?

Yes.

He’s part of a new growing trend of unpolished offensive tackles who make up the difference with incredible athletic ability and high aggression levels.

This past season, I heard first-year offensive tackle Broderick Jones (No. 14 Steelers) was Pro Football Focus’ third-highest graded rookie offensive tackle (steelersdepot.com), and he was anything but polished and reminded me of how Fautanu plays the position. Pittsburgh did move Jones to right tackle (he played left tackle at Georgia) and the Steelers did make the playoffs.

#55 Troy Fautanu 6-foot-4, 317 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 58.3% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 19, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Troy Fautanu Lacks What It Takes (4 games evaluated)

2023 game film reviewed: Oregon, Utah, USC, Oregon State, Boise State, Arizona, and Tulsa (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Note: Played volleyball and offensive and defensive line in high school

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tenacious prospect who is a better pass protector than a run blocker. Looked more fit this past season. Equally distributed body mass. Long arms. Sets up in pass pro with a wide base and good balance. Sturdy. Hands cocked and ready. Strong-willed street fighter. Hyper-fast movements. Solid anchor. Inconsistent picking up stunts, games, and blitzes. High-effort run blocker. Battles. Wins with effort and positioning advantages. Good understanding of leverage. Tends to stay off the ground. Can get downfield with ease. Hit and miss in space.

Final words

Fautanu plays football like it’s important to him.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.