Tag: Taliese Fuaga

Bengals go interesting route in expert’s first 2024 NFL mock draft

The Bengals get Joe Burrow some help in a new mock draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals attempt to fix the offensive line in front of Joe Burrow in the first mock draft of the year from a top expert.

Said expert is ESPN’s Field Yates, who has the Bengals going with Oregon offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga in an effort to fix the likely departure of Jonah Williams at right tackle:

Incumbent starter Jonah Williams will hit free agency in a month, and it’s no surprise the Bengals will continue to address the offensive line this offseason. If you want to get tougher and impose your will more in the run game — and I think the Bengals could use more explosive runs — Fuaga is the man for you. He’s a tone-setter with overwhelming strength at the point of attack and enough suddenness to react in the passing game as a strongside protector for Joe Burrow.

Williams’ trip to free agency is one of the more interesting storylines to watch around the team this offseason. Given his ability to play left or right tackle after his strong showing on the latter side this past season, teams might pay up big, beyond what the Bengals can afford.

But that would leave the Bengals starting a rookie on the right side with Burrow coming off another season-ending injury. Fuaga is an ideal prospect, but whether the Bengals want to plug in a rookie is hard to say, so perhaps in this scenario, they pay up for a stopgap veteran on the market, too.

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2024 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle top 5 rankings 1.0

2024 NFL Draft Offensive Tackle top 5 rankings 1.0 from Draft Wire’s Natalie Miller

The offensive tackle position has continued to be one of the highest sought after year after year. It’s important for any NFL team to protect their quarterback from ferocious edge rushers and keep them upright.

This years group of tackles is as deep as we have seen it in the last few years. Let’s take a look at the top five players of that group before we get to pre-draft process.

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Giants select OT Taliese Fuaga in first Lance Zierlein mock

In the first mock draft from NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein, the New York Giants select Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga at No. 6 overall.

NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein released his first mock draft on Monday and in it, he has three quarterbacks going off the board over the first five picks.

North Carolina’s Drake Maye slips to the Atlanta Falcons at No. 5 overall, just outside the reach of the New York Giants.

With the top three gun-slingers gone by the time they pick, Zierlein has the Giants landing Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga with the sixth overall pick.

Fuaga is one of the finest pass protectors in the draft and some see him as a guard/tackle. He gives the Giants flexibility with where they’ll play Evan Neal.

As Zierlein notes, most see Fuaga as more of a guard but the NFL analyst believes he could still become a quality right tackle at the NFL level.

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.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen needs more than a versatile offensive line project at No. 6 overall. And if Fuaga is better suited inside at guard, he’s not worth of such a high pick.

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5 offensive tackles the Dolphins could consider with the pick No. 21

A few offensive tackle options for the Dolphins in the first round.

The Miami Dolphins enter the 2024 offseason with many questions regarding the immediate future of the team. One of them is the direction they will go with their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

The Dolphins own the 21st pick in the draft, and it is imperative that they find someone who will be able to pick up starting reps during the season.

This draft is loaded with offensive talent, especially at the wide receiver and offensive tackle positions. The Dolphins have a ton of work to do with the offensive line, as they have pending free agents at all three positions.

Starting left tackle Terron Armstead’s future with the team is uncertain due to a brutal run with injuries, while his backup, Kendall Lamm, is set to hit free agency. Miami was able to extend right tackle Austin Jackson during the regular season.

Using the 21st pick to choose from this stacked class of offensive tackles is a great decision for improving the offense around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Pick No. 21 unfortunately puts the Dolphins out of reach for the best tackles in the draft like Joe Alt (Notre Dame) and Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State), but this is a deep draft class for tackles that will provide many options for the aqua and orange.

Here is a list of five tackles that the Dolphins might consider taking with the 21st pick.

Many top prospects opt out of playing in the Senior Bowl

Many top prospects opt out of playing in the Senior Bowl after participating in practices during the week

The 2024 Senior Bowl week capped off with Saturday’s game in Mobile. The three days of practices at the home of hte University of South Alabama saw over 100 potential NFL draft prospects work out under the watchful eyes of NFL evaluators from all 32 teams as well as hundreds of media members.

Alas, many of those players chose not to play in the actual game, which the National team won 16-7 over the American team. There were various reasons for not playing; some players suffered injuries during the week, while others opted to stand on what positives they’d accomplished in practices.

Among the most notable prospects who were in practices during the week but didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl game itself:

UCLA EDGE Laiatu Latu

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr.

Michigan WR Roman Wilson

Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson

Oregon State OT Taliese Fuaga

North Carolina State LB Payton Wilson

Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell

Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley

Those who didn’t play gave more opportunities to those who did get into the Senior Bowl game on Saturday. As an example, with Penix sitting out, Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman played almost the entire game for the National team.

 

 

10 standouts from 2024 Senior Bowl week

Here are 10 players who helped themselves for the NFL draft during Senior Bowl week.

The 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl is over. On Saturday, the National team defeated the American team 16-7, and South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler was named the MVP. Rattler played the first two series, completing all four passing attempts for 69 yards and a touchdown.

The game isn’t the most essential part of the week. It’s the weigh-ins, the three practices and the face time these prospects get with each of the 32 NFL teams. Every NFL team is represented in Mobile, Al. Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in town for part of the week and he was certainly checking out Houston offensive Patrick Paul — and, of course, many others.

With the first portion of the road to the 2024 NFL draft over, we look at 10 prospects who helped themselves after a strong showing in Mobile.

7 Senior Bowl participants who are perfect fits for the Eagles, Kellen Moore’s offense

We’re looking at seven players at the 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl who are perfect fits for the Philadelphia Eagles offense

The NFL draft starts in Mobile, Alabama, and as the Eagles and 29 other teams start figuring out a plan to reach the Super Bowl, coaches, scouts, and GMs have descend upon the most storied all-star game going today.

This year’s Reese’s Senior Bowl game will be broadcast on NFL Network at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 3. The game will be played at Hancock Whitney Stadium at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.

Both teams had practice on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and with kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at seven prospects who are perfect fits for the Eagles, and Kellen Moore’s offensive scheme.

9 early contenders for Cowboys first-round draft pick at WR, OC, OT

The defense might be the side of the ball that needs more help, but early in the process, the offense looks to be a better fit for the first-round selection. | From @cdpiglet

It is hard to knock the talent the Dallas Cowboys front office accumulated for the 2023 season, but the draft class was certainly a letdown. Dallas went into the playoffs as the second seed, and their roster was loaded with talent despite a couple of significant injuries. They had a league-high nine All-Pro players and 10 Pro Bowl players.

None of those players, or even the two tiers below them of key players and solid contributors, were from the draft class. For a team that relies on the amateur haul, another draft like that could set the franchise back a long way. Dallas’ pick at 24 needs to play a significant role in the 2024 season for Dallas.

The Cowboys could find that by selecting a wide receiver or offensive lineman with this pick. The defense needs young playmakers, but at this particular time, the fit is more on the offensive end. The wide receiver and offensive line positions are loaded enough that a high-level prospect could fall into their lap at 24.

Day 1 Senior Bowl standouts, and their NFL potential

Day 1 Senior Bowl standouts, and their NFL potential (via @NFL_DougFarrar):

The Senior Bowl is but one step in the evaluation process that eventually takes the best available college players to the NFL, but it is an important step in that there’s several days of practices in which personnel people can see like as like beyond the game tape. In the evaluative sense, the practices are almost more important than the games themselves.

Tuesday marked the first practices for the 2024 Senior Bowl, and here are six players who stood out immediately, matched with their NCAA tape, and some thoughts on their ultimate NFL potential.

2024 NFL Mock Draft: Senior Bowl edition, with a few new surprises

With Senior Bowl week in full swing, here’s one mock draft that reflects the statutes of a few prospects who have raised their profiles in Mobile.

The evaluative process for draft prospects goes through several different levels each year. The game tape is the most important thing, of course, but when the college all-star games like the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl come around, they matter, as well. At those events, NFL coaches and personnel people are able to interact closely on a daily basis with prospects through the weeks of practice, and it’s especially important for smaller-school players, who can show their attributes against players from stronger programs.

Day 1 Senior Bowl standouts, and their NFL potential

As we’re halfway through the practices for the Senior Bowl teams, now is a good time to see who has raised their profiles — sometimes, all the way into the hypothetical first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Because as we go through the scouting combine, pro days, and team visits, those prospects who bloom late will show up, as well.

Secret Superstars of the Senior Bowl, Day Two

So, here’s one mock draft reflecting what’s going on down in Mobile.