Troy Fautanu — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

The Seahawks lost guard Damien Lewis and center Evan Brown in free agency, and they haven't re-signed their other guard from last season in Phil Haynes. That tells me they're locking in on offensive line in Round 1, and Troy Fautanu is a worthy choice. He played left tackle at Washington but will probably be best suited inside in the NFL.

Not just a geography pick; Fautanu would address a Seahawks need. Perhaps the Washington product would slide back out to tackle eventually, but he'd be a Day 1 starter at guard, which is suddenly a little thin in Seattle. It would be a nice development for new OC Ryan Grubb, who came over from UW.

The Seahawks reinforce their trenches here with an athletic, easy-moving lineman in Fautanu. The former Huskies left tackle reunites with his college offensive coordinator, Ryan Grubb, meaning he'll know the system, the verbiage, and the nuances of what he's going to be doing—which should give him the chance to hit the ground running. Fautanu can line up at right tackle, fill in at guard if needed, and even take over at left tackle in a pinch.

The Cowboys' offensive line is getting a bit of a makeover this offseason with Tyron Smith departing for the New York Jets. Will Dallas move 2022 first-round pick Tyler Smith to left tackle or keep him at guard? For now, Mike McCarthy says Smith is staying at guard. Either way, Fautanu works well here, as he's capable of starting at either spot.

They need more help up front, and Troy Fautanu can play guard or tackle. He is a power player who fits the Steelers.

The Seahawks' depth chart has zero left guards listed right now. So I have Fautanu -- a college left tackle -- sliding inside, where he has the talent to be an All-Pro guard. Lining up Charles Cross and Fautanu on the left side immediately boosts the run game and keeps Geno Smith cleaner for the deep passes new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb loves. (Fautanu played for Grubb at Washington, too.) The Seahawks are always seeking value when it comes to the draft, and Fautanu is my No. 16 overall player, so Seattle can fill a need without reaching.

Seattle has done of good job addressing the tackle position in recent years, drafting Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas. But on the interior, the team has lost guard Damien Lewis and center Evan Brown. Fautanu is a plug-and-play Day 1 starter at guard. He has great 6-4, 317-pound size, solid length, quickness, toughness and position flexibility. He played mostly tackle at Washington, but I like him inside.

One of the "winners" of the pre-draft cycle, Fautanu reunites with former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who now holds the same title with the Seahawks. Though set at tackle, Seattle's interior line is inadequate, and Fautanu fits at guard. Wrote Bugler: "He flashes violence with his hands and makes defenders feel it when he connects."