The Steelers’ first-round selection has already expressed regret to his new locker mate.
Steelers’ first-round selection Troy Fautanu is eager to absorb knowledge swiftly, hence he has already expressed apologies to his new locker mate. Fautanu, hailing from the University of Washington, disclosed on Friday that the team has positioned his locker beside veteran guard Isaac Seumalo, whom he intends to learn from extensively.
“I’m right next to Isaac,” Fautanu stated. “I’ve apologized to him because I’m going to be bothering him a bunch. When you’ve got a guy like that, a nine-year vet that’s been around the league for so long, you want to pick his brain. He’s got a lot coming. I’m going to be bothering him a whole bunch.”
If Fautanu had intentions of seeking guidance from someone on the offensive line, Seumalo would likely be an ideal choice. The 30-year-old enters his ninth NFL season and showcased his proficiency at his position in 2023, conceding zero sacks across 1,038 snaps played, as per Pro Football Focus.
Moreover, both players share Polynesian heritage, a factor Fautanu believes will foster their relationship. “Just knowing he was brought up on the same morals and values that I was makes it a little bit easier to talk to him,” Fautanu added.
Nevertheless, it appears Seumalo may take some time to warm up to Fautanu, as he is known to be reserved in the locker room. “To be honest, he’s a man of few words,” Fautanu noted. “I learned that very quickly, so I didn’t want to bother him too much on my first day. I didn’t want to have a bad first impression.”
While Fautanu and Seumalo share adjacent lockers, they may not necessarily line up beside each other during games this season. Fautanu, primarily positioned at right tackle during the team’s rookie minicamp, hints that this will likely be his role in 2024.
Pittsburgh aims to relocate 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones to left tackle this season after his rookie year on the right side.
