Can you imagine another Zack Martin on the Dallas Cowboys?
Talk about luxury. Well, according to a top NFL Draft expert, it's possible. Recently, he compared a player who could be in the team's range in the first round to the Cowboys legend who's made seven first-team All-Pros since joining the team in 2014.
The man in question is Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu, who has been considered a first-round prospect since Day 1 with a significant caveat: Nobody seems to fully agree on whether he'll play guard or tackle at the next level.
ESPN's Mel Kiper said on the God Bless Football podcast that Fautanu's future is on the inside and he views him as a player who "is going to be like Zack Martin":
He's not a left tackle, guaranteed, even though he's got longer arms than Joe Alt, but he's projecting into guard. And that's Troy Fautanu from Washington, who's going to be like Zack Martin. Zack Martin was a left tackle at Notre Dame [and] became a Pro Bowl guard with the Cowboys - that's who Troy Fautanu is going to be. - Mel Kiper
Troy Fautanu's million dollar question: Guard or tackle?
Fautanu's height is a concern for many but some draft experts disagree with Kiper, noting that his arm length ranks in the 67th percentile of NFL offensive tackles. Height is in the 3rd percentile, though.
What Fautanu lacks in height he makes up for in athleticism and pro-ready technique. Per A to Z Sports' Athletic Composite Score, Fautanu ranks in the 98th percentile among offensive linemen. Plus, he displays top-notch footwork and hand usage on film.
He's got a nasty snatch trap that he uses to dominate even top-tier edge rushers and constantly wins reps before even engaging in blocks just thanks to his smooth movements. He's also got violent hands but in a way that looks smooth.
"Very effective snatch-trap technique to dismantle power rushers, active providing help & finishing blocks in pass pro, plays with a mean-streak & tries to finish blocks," details A to Z Sports' James Foster on his Big Board, although he notes Fautanu has struggled as a run blocker.
Could Cowboys pick him at 24th overall?
The short answer is yes. Fautanu is currently projected by Grinding the Mocks to go off the board at 17th overall but on draft day, the amount of offensive linemen that will go in the first round makes it anyone's guess as to who will go when.
With Fautanu, things are even more unpredictable as guards tend to fall off the board, so it comes down to how teams view him. Although he could very well go top 20, it's not hard to envision his name being on the board at 24th.
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