In each of the last two NFL drafts, the Steelers have used their first-round pick on a player who played left tackle in college. In 2023, that was Broderick Jones, who is now the Steelers’ starting left tackle. In 2024, it was Troy Fautanu, who will move to right tackle in Pittsburgh.
The move to the other side can be difficult for a lineman, but Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer says Fautanu has made fast progress in figuring out how to play on the right side.
“Troy’s learned a lot of the different techniques very quickly,” Meyer said, via ESPN. “The first couple days his timing was off because the speed of the game is different -- now we don’t have any pads on yet, so nothing’s going to be determined until we get into camp -- but his timing’s much better in terms of his get-off and run game and his sets and throwing his hands and being aggressive with his hands and whatnot. He’s improved tremendously from rookie minicamp to now.”
The Steelers are optimistic that they’ve found their two starting offensive tackles for many years to come.
The current expectation is that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk will be playing for the 49ers in 2024, but he has thought about what other options might be in play.
Aiyuk met with the 49ers this week and a report said that the meeting ended with both sides saying they were not looking for a trade ahead of the season. Aiyuk hasn’t gotten a contract extension, though, and the continued absence of one means that things could still flare up again before we get to September.
During an appearance on The Pivot, Aiyuk said he doesn’t feel the two sides are particularly close to striking a deal at the moment and he was asked what uniforms he could see himself wearing in 2024.
“If I were to take a guess, probably a Niner uniform,” Aiyuk said. “Probably a Niner uniform. If not a Niners uniform, probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably a Steelers uniform.”
The Steelers have previously been mentioned as a possible landing spot for Aiyuk and he was once college teammates with Commanders rookie quarterback Jaylen Daniels, but the fact the 49ers remain the likeliest choice should give nervous 49ers fans some solace about where the wideout will be this year.
Quarterback Russell Wilson’s two years in Denver were a dud and some of his former teammates will get a chance to try to make sure his move to Pittsburgh gets off to an unsuccessful start this season.
The Steelers will be in Denver in Week Two of the regular season and Wilson, who is currently slotted at No. 1 on the Steelers depth chart, facing his former team will be the central storyline heading into that matchup. During an appearance on Denver Sports 104.3, Broncos linebacker Jonas Griffith said that he’s looking forward to the chance to spoil Wilson’s return to the Mile High City.
“I’m really excited obviously for any game I get to play in,” Griffith said. “But you see that one you’re excited to go out there and — beat the Steelers, first of all, it’s a great organization. I want to pick off Russ, for sure. I think that would be really cool, just to pick him off and get the victory, first and foremost.”
Griffith was asked by host and former Bronco running back Philip Lindsay if he’ll say “let’s ride” to his former teammate if he gets a sack. Griffith laughed while answering in the negative, but the Broncos are sure to be taking that home game a little more seriously due to their relationship with the opposing quarterback.
The Steelers claimed defensive lineman Willington Previlon off waivers on Friday, according to the NFL’s transactions report.
The Falcons cut Previlon and offensive lineman Nolan Potter on Thursday.
Previlon went undrafted out of Rutgers in 2020, where he made 71 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and three passes defensed in his career.
He signed with the Packers and spent his rookie season on their practice squad. Previlon was cut by the Packers out of the preseason again in 2021, and he later signed to the Bucs’ practice squad.
Previlon was on the Cowboys’ practice squad for most of last season after the Bucs cut him out of training camp.
He has never played a regular-season game.
The Steelers signed free agent receiver Jacob Copeland to a one-year contract, the team announced Friday.
Copeland spent time on the Steelers’ practice squad in 2023.
He originally signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 draft. Tennessee cut him, and he later signed with the Vikings during training camp.
Minnesota waived Copeland out of the preseason.
Copeland spent time with the Chiefs this offseason.
He played at the University of Maryland in 2022 and totaled 26 receptions for 376 yards and two touchdowns. Previously, he spent four seasons at the University of Florida, where he had 86 receptions for 1,366 yards and nine touchdowns.