The New Orleans Saints have selected Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga with the 14th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Fuaga stands at 6’6″ and 324 pounds, displaying the versatility to play both tackle and guard in the NFL. He was rated as the second-best offensive tackle prospect by Pro Football Focus. He ran a 5.13 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and currently holds a Relative Athletic Score (RAS) of 9.63.
The versatile offensive lineman was a three-time All-American, including a first-teamer in 2023. The Tacoma, Washington native will come as a big need for New Orleans considering the future of All-Pro tackle Ryan Ramcyzk is currently in such flux.
Looking at his tape, the multi-time All-Pac 12 lineman has great footwork, strong hands at the point of attack, and is really good at making blocks in space.
According to his draft profile on NFL.com by Lance Zierlein:
“Beefy right tackle capable of playing at a high level despite his lack of ideal pad level and lower-body bend. Fuaga plays with a fairly aggressive disposition. He’s a one-pop blocker who struggles to clinch into his run blocks and is therefore forced to work overtime to sustain and finish. The pass protection technique is outstanding, and he possesses the athleticism to mirror and match edge-to-edge rush movements. Fuaga’s hand work is exceptional in pass pro and will need to remain so, because of his lack of desired range for recovering when beaten. A team could slide him to guard to improve its interior protection, but he’s best-suited at right tackle, where he should become a good starter.
NFL Draft Analyst lance zierlein
The New Orleans Saints have now addressed a major need for the upcoming 2024 season and will next select at 45 in the second round Friday night.