Taliese Fuaga, Tackle, Oregon State
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 332
Arm Length: 33 ⅜
40-Yard Dash: N/A
10-Yard Split: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Pros
- Fires off the ball in the run game to get the jump on his assignment.
- NFL-ready blend of size, length, strength, and agility.
- Passes off assignments well on T-E stunts.
- Good footwork in pass protection to mirror rushers and anchor down.
- Possesses a strong and accurate punch that’s difficult to break from.
- Has a finisher’s mentality but still plays a clean game.
Cons
- Sometimes gets fixated on his assignment instead of recognizing the potential different ways of attack.
- Sometimes has trouble sticking his grip against rushers with active hands.
- Will sometimes overset in one direction leaving an open lane in the other direction.
Notes
- On the PAC 12 Academic Honor Roll in 2021.
- Second-team All-PAC 12 in 2022.
- First-team All-PAC 12 in 2023.
Overview
One of the biggest risers out of all prospects this draft season has been Taliese Fuaga. He may not have leaped multiple rounds like some prospects, but he’s someone who went from being a second round pick, to a potential top-10 lock. Still, RTs typically don’t hold the same value as someone on the left side does when it comes to the draft.
Taliese Fuaga is a terrific blend of size, length, strength, and agility. In the run game, he fires off the ball to get a jump on those lined across him. From this, it’s typically only a matter of time until he flattens you with his finisher’s mentality. Nevertheless, Fuaga still manages to play a clean game. In pass protection, Fuaga plays with very good feet allowing him to tirelessly mirror defenders and anchor down once he gets comfortable. In his drop, he has good vision leading to him passing off and taking on stunts well. Finishing going back to his strength, Fuaga has heavy hands as seen with his strong and accurate punch along with how difficult it is to break free from it.
Still, Fuaga sometimes gets preoccupied with whoever’s in front of him to the extent of which he doesn’t recognize the different ways defensive fronts can rush the passer. Additionally, despite his strength, the former Beaver experiences trouble against rushers with active hands as he could be better at resetting his hands. More so, Fuaga will sometimes overset in one direction in his pass drop leaving the opposite lane open.
Nonetheless, you don’t climb draft boards as well as Fuaga has without there being validity to your game. Just as Oregon State surprised people this past year, so should Fuaga when he gets to the NFL.
My Two Cents
Taliese Fuaga is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft. From my first time watching his tape in preparation for my first mock draft, I had the inclination that he was special. After watching his film of this most recent season, my suspicions about the Oregon State product were only confirmed. Fuaga is a special player whom I think would be perfect for any team that needs an OT.
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