Steelers first-round pick has already 'apologized' to new locker mate

Steelers first-round pick Troy Fautanu is looking to learn as much as he can as fast as he can. That's why he has already apologized to his new locker mate.

On Friday, the Washington product revealed the team put his locker next to veteran guard Isaac Seumalo, who he's planning on taking full advantage of.

"I'm right next to Isaac," Fautanu said. "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 was planning to pick somebody's brain on the offensive line, Seumalo may be the best to do so.

The 30-year-old is heading into his ninth season in the NFL and proved to still be one of the best at his position in 2023, allowing zero sacks on 1,038 snaps played, per Pro Football Focus.

Plus, both players are of Polynesian descent, which Fautanu thinks will only help grow 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.

However, it seems it's still going to take some time for Seumalo to open up to Fautanu since he's one of the quieter guys in the locker room.

"To be honest, he's a man of few words," Fautanu stated. "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's locker is next to Seumalo's, the two are unlikely to play right next to each other this season.

Fautanu played exclusively at right tackle during the first day of the team's rookie minicamp, hinting that will likely be his position in 2024.

Pittsburgh hopes to move 2023 first-round pick Broderick Jones back to left tackle this season after playing on the right side in his rookie year.