The Las Vegas Raiders are going to need to take an offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft, it's just a matter of when they choose to do so.
If Las Vegas is in a position early on Day 2 to draft an offensive tackle after having used its first-round pick on another position, there should be some great choices available.
One of them could be former Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, one of the top pass blockers in this year's draft class.
Fautanu helped lead Washington to the second-best passing offense in the nation this past season (343.7 passing yards per game), as well as a spot in the National Championship game. The prospect started at left tackle in all 15 games. He was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team and was awarded the 2023 Morris Trophy, awarded annually to the top offensive lineman in the Pac-12.
Fautanu was also named to the Associated Press All-America Third Team. He and the Huskies finished the 2023 season as the Pac-12 champions and the national title runner ups.
© Mark J. Rebilas | 2024 Jan 8
The season prior, Fautanu started in all 13 games for Washington and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team for that season as well. In the 2021 season, he played in all nine games, having made three starts. That followed a 2020 campaign in which Fautanu played in all four of the Huskies' contests.
Pro Football Focus gave Fautanu a pass-block grade of 88.2 for the 2023 season.
The Raiders are going to be looking to increase their aggression in their pass game under Coach Antonio Pierce. To execute that plan, it's going to start on the offensive line, and adding a pass protector of Fautanu's caliber would be a major move in that direction.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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