This Washington Star is Dallas’ Dream Draft Pick
Examining the Dallas Cowboys’ alleged roster needs post-Super Bowl and before we embark on NFL Draft season and free agency, what are some consensus positions of need you keep seeing? What needs do you consider? Offensive Line? Corner? Defensive interior? Looking through realistic potential options at Pick #24, why not get your offensive line help at multiple positions? The ole “Two Birds, One Stone.” Why not continue to nurture that Dallas Cowboys brand of dominating the offensive line of scrimmage with tenured personnel? Look no further than University of Washington OT/OG Troy Fautanu. A 30+ game starter and a cornerstone building block of the National Championship runner-up, Fautanu gave the kind of production to allow just two sacks in over two years of starting experience.
Measurables and Stats
Listed Height: 6-foot-4
Listed Weight: 317 pounds
Jersey Number: 55
(2023): 1st Team All PAC-12, 15 starts at Left Tackle
(2022): 2nd Team All PAC-12, 12 starts at Left Tackle, 1 start at Left Guard
(2021): 2 starts at Left Tackle, 1 at Left Guard, 9 game appearances
(2020): Played in every game of the Covid season
** Zero career false starts
** Two career sacks allowed on 1,245 pass-blocking snaps
** Four career holding penalties
Film Study Information
Games Watched: Oregon (2023) 2x, Oregon State (2023), Texas (2023), Michigan (2023), Texas (2022), Stanford (2022), Arizona State (2022)
Best Game: Oregon State (2023)
Worst Game: Arizona State (2022)
Physical Skills Evaluation
Versatility: While Fautanu’s frame fits that of a prototype Guard, he has athletic feet and enough length to play outside at Tackle. Groomed in a legendary aerial passing offense with the likes of Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze, etc. he also has extensive experience in zone and gap running schemes. He has the football IQ to offer center ability as well. Regarding versatility on the O-Line, only Duke’s Graham Barton could be in a conversation with Fautanu in this Draft class. This is the Peter Skoronski situation last year. The question is, does Fautanu’s team start him at Guard or Tackle? Tennessee did the right thing with Skoronski. Be great at something versus being good.
Physicality: Those heavyweight hands will knock you with real power and Fautanu wants them to do so. His first step out of his stance and abnormal interior arm length will stonewall defenders in the downhill run game.
Athleticism: Fautanu can handle stunt rushers with his powerful balance and his natural ability to stay in phase and open his hips is the caliber of a legitimate Tackle. For a Guard? All-Pro ceiling.
Recovery/Processing IQ: The flexibility is elite for Fautanu and recovery is quickly recognized in unison with his strong hands, agile feet, and balanced leverage on opponents.
Performance Evaluation
Pass Blocking: As experienced as you can be in Washington's heavy aerial passing offense. Coach Kalen Deboer’s confidence in Fautanu was evident in empty formations and leaving him alone on the island perimeter. In a league becoming more and more pass-first, this is the strength of his game to go along with versatility.
Run Blocking: Fautanu is nasty getting to the second level and it doesn’t matter in what manner schematically, he found it in Washington’s multi-scheme running attack.
Gap: East-West range and proper angling have Fautanu as an elite-caliber ceiling going into the second level. The ability to pull, be productive in open space, and create down leverage on his opponent suffice.
Zone: Fautanu’s athletic ability is so translatable to a pro-zone offense. You’d imagine a player with Tackle AND Guard experience would maintain well in zone, right? Yes. His versatility positionally accents his football IQ in a multi-zone blocking scheme. Almost like when we say secondary players who were once receivers have increased route recognition.
Strengths
You don’t have to be a football expert to see the well-built, stocky frame featuring no bad-weight of Fautanu. His flexibility in knee bend and his lower half, in general, is top-shelf and fun to watch on the tape. To go along with that athletic knee bend, his well-nuanced leverage at the line of scrimmage and powerful hands are built for perimeter and interior blocking. Explosive Tackle caliber kick-step and active feet are so impressively smooth and balanced, with no fear in terms of recovery.
Weaknesses
Where can Fautanu improve and what less-than-perfect prospect traits are worth noting on his profile? For starters, Fautanu will be 24 in October. I don’t turn my nose up at prospects’ ages as bad as others, but it’s worth noting. Give me two contracts worth of production and I don’t think I’ll be crying wishing there was an additional year or two. Particularly if he kicks into the interior, wouldn’t kill him to build his strength up for the run game and blitz pickups, bull rush moves, etc. Consistency in hand placement and balanced tempo control is an area for potential growth, particularly with his outside hand.
Fit with the Cowboys
Franchise cornerstones left tackle Tyron Smith and right guard Zack Martin are 33 going on 34 years old. Smith is an unrestricted free agent this off-season. 2022 1st-round pick Tyler Smith has thrived at left guard while Tyron Smith finished out this contract. The ultimate plan has been to kick Tyler back out to tackle with his newfound experience. Adding Fautanu gives the Cowboys so many options, starting with Tyler Smith. Don’t want to move him from his dominating left guard spot? Leave him, Fautanu can play Tackle. Ready to kick Smith out according to the succession plan? Fautanu is ready to start Day 1. However the Cowboys feel, they have to bolster this offensive line with a young piece. For so many years to have been comfortable with All-Pro caliber talents littered on the line, Dallas allowed 40 sacks last year, worse than the league average. Dak is not “that guy pal” who doesn’t need an above-average O-Line to get over the hump.
Prospect Grade: (84/100) (Mid-Late 1st)
Athleticism (10) | 9 | Measurements (10) | 8.5 |
Versatility (10) | 9 | Experience + NFL Ready (10) | 9 |
Pass Blocking (10) | 8.5 | Consistency (10) | 7.5 |
Run Blocking (10) | 7.5 | Technical Skills (10) | 8 |
Football IQ (10) | 9 | Production (10) | 9.5 |
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