2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State

Could Fuaga be the best tackle to come out of this draft?

Who’s the top offensive tackle in the 2024 NFL Draft?

One name you’ll hear mentioned as being among the top tackles is Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga. But could he wind up being the best tackle to come out of this draft class?

Fuaga doesn’t have the athletic upside of some of the other tackle prospects, however he’s a confident and sound technician who does just about everything well. He also plays with a mauler’s mentality while rarely putting himself in bad positions. Fuaga’s position as a right tackle and less-than-athletic physique have him flying under the radar a bit, but that could all change on Sundays.

Could he be on the New York Giants radar if they’re ready to move on from Evan Neal?

Prospect: Taliese Fuaga (75)
Games Watched: vs. Utah (2023), vs. UCLA (2023), vs. Oregon (2023), vs. Washington (2023)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football

Strengths

• Technique
• Leverage
• Athleticism
• Play strength
• Competitive toughness

Fuaga is a good-sized, athletic, technically sound, and competitive offensive tackle.

Fuaga doesn’t quite have prototypical size for the position at 6-foot 5 ¾ inches, with 33 ⅛-inch arms, but has good bulk at 324 pounds. He doesn’t have the “oversized tight end” build sported by many tackles to come out in recent years and has a definite “power belly”, however Fuaga’s frame belies surprising athleticism. He has quick, light feet that allow him to kick-slide smoothly while also easily redirect back inside. Likewise, Fuaga is quick out of his stance, able to climb to the second level or get out in space to block. He has plenty of agility mirror speed off the edge, as well as the footwork to anchor against power rushers.

Fuaga is a reliable pass protector and has played 1,509 snaps in 25 games at right tackle over the last two years, yet has allowed just five hits and no sacks. He pairs very good hand technique with his feet, consistently using a hard, accurate punch and strong grip to control defenders.

He’s a mauler in the run game and is able to execute man and zone concepts. He does a good job of playing with leverage and is able to generate movement at the line of scrimmage. His athleticism allows him to block accurately in space and Fuaga seems to relish opportunities to deliver hits to defenders.

Weaknesses

• Length

It’s difficult to pick out real weaknesses with Fuaga. Frankly, he’s technically proficient and does pretty much everything well.

If we’re going to point out aspects of Fuaga’s profile that aren’t strengths, the most obvious is his relative lack of length. Fuaga’s arms are “only” 33 ⅛-inches long, which is about one inch shorter than average for NFL tackles. That didn’t really limit him on tape in college, though teams with firm thresholds for player measurables could prefer tackle prospects with longer frames.

Fuaga also doesn’t quite have truly “elite” athleticism. Again, that doesn’t really hamper him on tape, but teams could prefer prospects with higher athletic ceilings.

Game Tape

(Fuaga is Oregon State RT number 75)

Projection

Fuaga projects as a starting offensive tackle at the NFL level and should be able to win a starting job on most offensive lines as a rookie.

Fuaga should be able to play left or right tackle as a pro, however teams might be better off just leaving him at right tackle and letting him continue to develop at the more familiar position. Fuaga isn’t as exciting as some of the other tackle prospects in this draft class. He’s a bit on the short side and his physique carries some “sloppy” weight. He also doesn’t quite have the sky high ceiling that comes with freak athleticism.

However, he’s already technically polished and has a very high floor – while also having a ceiling that’s quite high as well. Fuaga is the type of player that a team can draft, plug into their line, and then not worry about that position for a decade. He might never be the best at his position, but there’s a very real possibility that he winds up being the best offensive lineman to come out of this draft.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes.

Final Word: A high first-round value