Taliese Fuaga
Summary
Taliese Fuaga was selected in Round 1 (#14 Overall) in the 2024 Draft out of Oregon State University. Fuaga is a highly promising young offensive lineman whose standout strengths are size, power, movement ability, strong fundamentals in run and pass blocking, and positional versatility. His main growth areas lie in maximizing his reach and leverage in edge matchups, improving lateral agility and hip transitions, anchoring fully in the most physical pass‑rush scenarios, and adapting to left tackle or high‑pressure reps if required. If he develops as projected, he can be a foundational tackle for years to come.
Strengths
Size, length & power: Fuaga brings a prototypical tackle frame combined with thickness and mass, which allows him to generate push in the run game and handle physical edge rushers.
Run‑blocking dominance & movement skills: He shows good initial quickness off the snap, excellent leverage (knee bend, pad level) and is effective on zone‑scheme climbs, second‑level blocks, and combo blocks.
Pass protection fundamentals: Efficient mover in kick‑slide sets, strong independent hand usage to disrupt rushers, and good anchor when matched up one‑on‑one. Rarely beat on true pass pro sets.
Versatility & adaptability: While primarily a right tackle in college, he has shown ability to pull, climb, and handle diverse blocking responsibilities, enhancing his value in pro schemes.
Weaknesses
Arm length & elite reach slightly lacking: While his length is good, it is just below the “elite” benchmark for tackles facing top edge rushers, which may affect how well he controls the edge in isolated situations.
Hip‑transition / lateral quickness in space: His change‑of‑direction and recovery when defenders use inside moves or stutter step may lag, especially in more dynamic pass‑rush situations.
Finish & consistency in anchoring vs power rushers: At times, he stands a bit upright, or may over‑extend on blocks in space, which can lead to being displaced by strong bull rushes.
Fit & Outlook
Taliese Fuaga projects as a starting offensive tackle in an NFL scheme that values movement ability, zone‑scheme blocking, and big‑body presence at the point of attack. He fits well in an offense that uses a balanced run/pass approach and asks its tackles to climb and finish blocks, rather than simply anchor immobile sets. Over the next few seasons, if he continues refining his lateral agility, keeps his pad level consistently low, and handles one‑on‑one edge rushers with elite length leverage, he has the upside to become a high‑grade starter — potentially a multi‑year anchor on the offensive line. At his worst, his floor is that of a solid, reliable starter who may need occasional assistance or scheme mitigations against elite inside/outside rushers.