With the 14th overall pick in the NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints draft Taliese Fuaga — offensive lineman out of Oregon State. Fuaga is a mauler who will bring a bit of nastiness to the unit upfront, but will it be at tackle or guard? Let’s take a look at what Taliese Fuaga brings to the Saints.
Taliese Fuaga NFL Draft Profile 2024
Taliese Fuaga
Position: OL
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 324 lbs
Age: 22
College: Oregon State Beavers
Taliese Fuaga Highlights
Taliese Fuaga Combine Results
While he didn’t participate in all of the drills, these are the Taliese Fuaga Combine results we have.
| 40-Yard Dash | 5.13 Sec |
| 10-Yard Split | 1.77 Sec |
| Vertical Jump | 32 Inches |
| Broad Jump | 9’3” |
| 3-Cone Drill | — |
| 20-Yd Shuttle | — |
| Bench Press | — |
RELATED | Full Taliese Fuaga NFL Draft Profile, Highlights and Stats
Taliese Fuaga Scouting Report
Strengths
Simply put, Taliese Fuaga is a dog. He plays with an attitude, finishing blocks both in the run and pass games. Fuaga uses great technique to stop the bullrush, and his footwork is impeccable, helping to make up for his stride length. If he locks onto you in the run game, you’re done, and Fuaga will look to bury you into the turf. He’s a right tackle that would fit onto any team, but his attitude both on and off of the field makes it so he can be a culture-setter for a hard-nosed, gritty team as well.
Weaknesses
As stated above, his leg stride is shorter than ideal. While his footwork helps to make up for it, he could be in trouble if/when he does start to slow down. In the right situation, Fuaga may be better served at guard as a result. Fuaga also can be a bit impatient and get overaggressive in open space, looking for a big hit instead of just locking on and making the play.
What to Expect From Taliese Fuaga in 2024
We know Taliese Fuaga is a Day 1 starter, given where he was drafted. His best football will likely come at guard. If he starts at offensive guard, the leg stride issues in pass protection are no longer an issue, and he can continue to play like an asshole (in the best way possible). Fuaga is going to hit defenders, set the tone, and hit them again. The Saints love guys like this.
