​The Pittsburgh Steelers selected offensive tackle Troy Fautanu from the University of Washington with a first-round choice in the 2024 NFL draft. After missing much of his rookie season due to injury, Fautanu managed to claim the starting job at right guard in 2025 and is pegged to be the Steelers’ starting left tackle this season. However, in CBS Sports’ redraft, the Steelers pass on Fautanu and instead choose wide receiver Rome Odunze. Odunze was widely regarded as one of the top options on the Steelers’ radar in the first round. In the original 2024 draft, the Chicago Bears selected Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick. While the strategy behind this hypothetical switch is understandable, Odunze has delivered only average production through his first two seasons. In contrast, Fautanu quickly rose to become one of the best young offensive tackles in the AFC. It would have been prudent for the Steelers to stay with Fautanu in this hypothetical redraft.
On a related note, center Zach Frazier, whom Pittsburgh drafted in the second round that same year, also impressed early on and is now slated as the No. 17 overall pick for the Minnesota Vikings. Frazier has established himself as one of the league’s top centers in a short span, underscoring how well the Steelers navigated that draft class.
This reflection on the 2024 draft underscores how positional value and early development can influence outcomes for a franchise. While Odunze brings dynamic receiving upside, Fautanu’s ascent as a sturdy, reliable protector in the interior—and the potential long-term impact at left tackle—highlights the ongoing debate about where teams should invest premium selections. The contrast between a high-profile receiver and a rookie tackle who grows into a cornerstone of the line exemplifies the.gradle between immediate impact and long-term organizational building. These narratives also illustrate how the Steelers’ 2024 choices have been reassessed in hindsight, reinforcing the notion that a draft is as much about projection and development as it is about meeting immediate needs.