By Ross Jackson
It has been no mystery so far this season that the New Orleans Saints absolutely knocked their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of the park.
The Saints made Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga the No. 14 overall selection in the draft. After doing so, the team moved Fuaga from the right tackle spot to the left side of the offensive line. It was a curious decision considering that the offensive lineman had taken snaps solely on the right side during his collegiate career.
But the move turned out to be exactly what the Saints needed.
Fuaga has not allowed a single pressure in five different contests throughout his inaugural season including three of the last four games. He has allowed more than a pair of pressures in just five games and only three sacks on the season.
LouisianaSports.Net spoke one-on-one with Fuaga ahead of his upcoming matchup with the Green Bay Packers, and he believes his play of late has been strong.
“I feel good,” he said. “I kind of fell off in the middle. I mean, I played Kansas City, and then I had the Broncos. That stretch there, I didn’t think I played that well. But, I think just learning the playbook and keep learning more technique. (Offensive line coach John Benton, senior offensive assistant Rick Dennison and offensive assistant Jahri Evans) helped me understand everything, really. So, I think lately I’m playing a little bit better. Still got a lot of things to improve.”
The midseason stretch was a challenge for Fuaga indeed. The aforementioned Chiefs and Broncos along with the Los Angeles Chargers accounted for all five of the sacks the tackle has surrendered this season. Outside of that, he’s been outstanding with no sacks allowed and just four hits given up.
Despite the rough stretch, Fuaga has been on a tear in recent games.
Despite facing talent like Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Rams end Jared Verse and New York Giants pass rusher Brian Bruns, Fuaga gave up just one pressure to the trio and four as a whole.
It’s one thing to see this kind of success as a rookie, it’s another entirely to do so while having taken snaps with three different starting quarterbacks. Fuaga credits the quarterback room for that success, however.
“At the beginning of the season, I felt like it was different,” Fuaga said. “It’s really not. I think Spencer (Rattler) and Jake (Haener) do a great job of trying to do what Derek’s (Carr) doing out there and do what they do out there at the same time. So, I don’t think it’s too different.”
With Rattler expected to get his fourth start of the season, Fuaga is excited to see his draft classmate get another opportunity.
“I’m excited for him,” Fuaga said. “He looks like a vet out there. So I’m excited to see what he can do out there.”
The tackle believes there’s no limit for himself and his rookie class. He, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and Rattler have stepped into prominent starting roles in their first seasons. Each is also in position to prove themselves as cornerstones for the team’s future.
As far as that goes for Fuaga, there is absolutely no doubt at this point that he has every bit of the talent necessary to be a long-term starter for the team. And there’s still room for him to grow. New Orleans may have a perineal Pro Bowler and/or All-Pro player on their hands, exactly the kind of win you’re looking for in the first round of any draft.
This year’s first-round selection is proving to be exactly what the Saints bargained for.
