With the Giants currently holding the sixth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, let’s take a look at one prospect who may be a target: Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga.
By the numbers
– Height: 6-foot-6
– Weight: 324 pounds
– 40-Yard Dash: 5.13
– Vertical: 32 inches
– Bench: DNP
– Broad Jump: 9-foot-3
– 2023 Stats (12 games started): 700 offensive snaps, no sacks allowed, eight penalties
Prospect Overview
Bleacher Report: Taliese Fuaga is a two-year starter inside Oregon State’s 56-44 run-pass split, zone-based run scheme with 25 career starts all at right tackle.
Fuaga has a large frame with good arm length and well-dispersed thickness throughout his frame. He has solid athletic ability with good initial quickness out of his stance and very good power.
NFL.com: 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.
Why Taliese Fuaga makes sense for the Giants
The Giants entered the offseason with the offensive line considered a major priority. During the first half of last year, New York’s offensive line was constantly in flux as multiple players missed time due to injuries and opposing defenses were able to generate consistent pressure. This led to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor both getting injured as they lost eight of their first 10 games.
Although things settled down in the second half of the year with Andrew Thomas…
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