Taliese Fuaga — NFL Mock Draft Roundup 1.0

I love Fuaga's tape from his career at Oregon State. I think we'll see him move up draft boards during the evaluation process. He's massive and powerful. New York's offensive line is screaming out for more help as the Jets look to protect Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets' defense allowed more points in 2023 than the previous season (20.9 ppg versus 18.6), and ranked 12th in the NFL. But the D weas on the field more often due to ineffective offensive play. The team actually allowed 19 fewer yards per game in 2023 at 292.3 than in 2022, and just 4.6 yards per play versus 4.8 (in 2022). It is these defensive improvements, coupled with the loss of Aaron Rodgers for the season, which ensures that GM Joe Douglas and HC Robert Saleh will continue to helm the Jets in 2024.

The Jets offensive line surrendered 64 sacks in the 2023 season, (tied for) 3rd most in the NFL. Bad as that unit was, three of the Jets' tackles will hit free agency in March.

With the potential of 4 or 5 QBs to be selected in the top 10 in April's Draft, the Jets should have a nice choice between quality tackles at #10.

There were 21 NFL offensive lineman with a 6.0% beaten rate in 2023, according to TruMedia, and the Rams offensive tackles were two of them. Right tackle Taliese Fuaga steps into a starting role.

The Jaguars go offensive line to better protect Trevor Lawrence in 2024 and beyond. Jacksonville's quarterback took a step back in 2023.

The Bengals will look to beef up their offensive line with Joe Burrow coming off an injury, and they land a replacement for pending free agent Jonah Williams in Taliese Fuaga.

After averaging just 3.7 yards per rush this season, how will the Texans address a stagnant run game? Drafting the best run blocker in this year's class would be a promising start. Fuaga was a right tackle at Oregon State, but a lot of scouts like him best as a guard.

I wouldn't be shocked if Taliese Fuaga ends up being the top tackle from this class five years down the line. A man mover in the run game that can single-handedly distort his side of the line of scrimmage, more consistency in his pass sets will allow Fuaga to reach his potential quickly. I can't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl.

Underrated no more, Taliese Fuaga should start to hear his name generated as one of the top tackles in the class before April. At No. 19, the Green Bay Packers get a potential decade-long starter in Fuaga.

He's a great pass protector, but the name of the game is run blocking for Fuaga. And no one in the class does it better than he does.

Both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are free agents for the Bengals after this season, but the top four wide receivers are off the board here, so Cincy fortifies Joe Burrow's protection (never a bad idea). Fuaga is a well-rounded mauler at tackle and could be the Beavers' first offensive lineman ever selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

The Jets' offseason mission is very clear: upgrade at both wide receiver and all across the offensive line. They will most likely do the former through a trade or free agency, leaving the latter as a huge mission in this year's draft.

They'd love if Joe Alt or Olu Fashanu made it to this pick, but that's not likely as it stands right now. Don't overlook Fuaga, who had a monster year at right tackle for Oregon State. He's a mauler in the run game and shows tremendous strength against power in pass protection.

The interior of the Bucs' offensive line has been a problem for years now. They've ranked dead last in yards before contact on running plays each of the last two seasons. This makes finding a bulldozer who can get out in space and flatten linebackers a priority.

Enter Fuaga, an upper crust tackle who could kick inside and maximize his paving potential. The Oregon State stud can play inside or out, potentially taking over for Luke Goedeke at right tackle or making an immediate impact at guard to make life easier for Rachaad White.

Broderick Jones has shown potential as a right tackle in Year 1, but his natural position is on the left side. I could see Pittsburgh sliding him over -- left tackle Dan Moore Jr. gave up 12 sacks this season and 35 over the past three years -- and drafting another first-round tackle. Fuaga is a physically imposing blocker who overwhelms defenders at the point of attack, and the Steelers could build their offensive line around these two reliable bookend tackles.

Let's see what happens with the coaching situation. The offensive line was a train wreck of injuries and disappointing play from LT Andre Dillard. Will Levis deserves a real shot to prove he can be their QB.