Raiders Draft 2024: Is offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga a fit?

Oregon State lineman brings the mean streak that fits what Antonio Pierce is instilling in Las Vegas

Mean, powerful, and stout — three common descriptors when it comes to Oregon State product Taliese Fuaga. And the perfect profile for the Las Vegas Raiders, too.

Standing at 6-foot-6 and 324 pounds, the 22-year-old is a tailor-made right tackle that fits not only the philosophy head coach Antonio Pierce is instilling in his football team, but Fuaga’s experience in the zone-based run scheme the Beavers deployed during his stint in Corvallis makes him a potential scheme fit for the Silver & Black.

Not only is Fuaga an extremely powerful blocker, he has the feet and agility to get on the move to excel in a zone or gap blocking scheme. Prospects tend to do extremely well in either the power or movement categories and Fuaga can do both.

Tale of the Tape: Taliese Fuaga

• School: Oregon State
• Position: Offensive Tackle
• Height: 6-foot-6
• Weight: 324 pounds
• 2023 Stats: 12 games played, 12 starts at right tackle
• Career Stats: 39 career games, 25 career starts at right tackle

As it stands now, the only offensive tackles on Las Vegas’ roster with substantial starting experience are Kolton Miller (left ) and Thayer Munford Jr. (starts at left and right). Massive youngsters Dalton Wagner and Jalen McKenzie round out the four offensive lineman listed as tackles. For a Raiders team in need of serious competition at the right tackle position to identify a starter and create depth, Fuaga is a plug-and-play type prospect for the Silver & Black that can either compete for and win the job on the right side or keep whomever beats him for the gig on their toes.

Fuaga can anchor in pass protection and provide a mauling people mover as a run blocker. His aggressive demeanor creates a rabid mean streak making him overpowering to defenders as he engulfs them as a drive blocker. His power is evident when he locks in on a defender and sends them flying. The pop is often audible and what’s impressive is Fuaga’s ability to get to landmarks as a run blocker. In pass protection, the Tacoma native can mirror edge defenders and he uses his hands well to stymie a variety of pass rush moves to keep the quarterback clean. Fuaga’s ability to use either hand to deflect incoming defenders gives him the ability to counter a variety of pass rush moves and he reads stunts well smoothly going from one block to the next.

It’s his ability to be comfortable working alone in a phonebooth isolated or working with fellow offensive linemen on combo blocks that makes Fuaga a versatile blocker. And his quickness at his size will draw the interest of many teams.

With solid fundamentals and physicality to boot, there’s little drawbacks to Fuaga’s game now, but there are areas of opportunity — as with every prospect.

While his mean streak will attract a team like the Raiders, it’s that killer instinct that’s resulted in penalties for Fuaga. An unnecessary roughness infraction at the NFL level can be sometimes to costly for an offense to overcome. His innate aggressiveness also has Fuaga trying to get ahead as a blocker which made him a habitual false starter this past season for Oregon State (six flags). And while Fuaga is arguably the top run-blocking right tackle prospect in this draft, he often looks for the big pop and deflection of a defender instead of properly latching on and driving them away and out of the play. Lastly, while his hand usage to combat incoming rushers is something to behold, he can rely on that too much with his footwork lagging behind and an NFL pass rusher can take advantage of that knocking Fuaga off balance — which is detrimental for any offensive lineman.

But when it’s all clicking for Fuaga, he’s the type of right tackle you nary need worry about as his physical gifts, athleticism, and football IQ will ensure success.

The Raiders intend to inflict pain on the opposition and have an ill intent mindset and the Silver & Black would be hard pressed to find another right tackle prospect that embodies that more than Fuaga. While some scouts and teams have described Fuaga as an interior blocker at the next level at guard, the film he put on at Oregon State showcases a prospect that can hang on an island at right tackle. And that’s a big area of need for the Raiders.

Fortunately for Las Vegas, if Fuaga is there when the team picks with the No. 13 overall pick, it won’t be a roll of the dice to select the Beavers lineman. He’s the the type that checks off the best player available (BPA) and need box for NFL personnel people.

The AFC West has a showcase of talent at edge rusher and landing Fuaga to compete for and potentially become the starter at right tackle is an excellent way for the Raiders to combat that.