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Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Tyron Smith and Oregon State OL Taliese Fuaga.
The New York Jets could pull off a rare discount double-check in 2024. Matt Miller of ESPN predicted the green and white to select former Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga with the No. 10 overall pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
After making that pick, he wasn’t done yet.
“It’s no secret the Jets need major help at tackle. Fuaga is coming off an amazing week of practice at the Senior Bowl, where he was the best overall prospect in attendance. A right tackle in college, Fuaga has the movement and power to play either side in the pros,” Miller explained in an article posted on Monday, February 5.
“A perfect pairing for the Jets would be signing a veteran free agent like Tyron Smith to play the left side and drafting Fuaga to man the right. Without a second-round pick thanks to the Aaron Rodgers trade, the Jets have to invest in the O-line early, especially with Mekhi Becton heading toward free agency after New York declined his fifth-year option.”
One fan wrote on X previously Twitter, “[this] would finally look like a Super Bowl caliber OL with AVT [Alijah Vera-Tucker] in the right position and [Joe] Tippmann.”
If the Jets did nothing else to their O-Line outside of the Miller additions, this would be the starting five offensive linemen:
The Jets have limited assets this offseason so they have to get creative to fill the voids on the roster. Smith is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent and Fuaga is expected to be available in the first round when the Jets pick.
This unit would have the potential of being a borderline top-10 unit in football next season. Brian Costello of the New York Post explained on NY Flight Jets Talk that you don’t need five superstar offensive linemen to be successful in the trenches.
“You kind of need four really good starters and then you can plug the fifth guy in and live with it,” Costello added.
NFL draft analyst Dom C. joined “Boy Green Daily” on Monday, February 5 to share the tea on what he heard about the Jets down at the Senior Bowl.
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said he “loved” Fuagua down in Mobile. “He made a mention specifically by name [saying] that kid is a player,” Dom C. explained.
Fuaga was asked what would his reaction be if he had the chance to play with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2024. He told Antwan Staley of the New York Daily News that it would be “amazing.”
Tabloid Format:
Headline: “Jets and Fuaga Linked Ahead of Draft – Is This the Key to Success for Rodgers?”
Paragraph 1: There is a lot of smoke surrounding the New York Jets and their potential connection with Fuaga leading up to the draft. Insider sources and members of the draft community have confirmed that this connection is indeed real.
Paragraph 2: The Jets are in desperate need of at least two new starters on their offensive line for the upcoming season. In an ideal scenario, the team would fill both of these crucial positions with highly capable players.
Paragraph 3: The success of quarterback Rodgers in the 2024 season heavily relies on the protection he receives from his offensive line. If the Jets can provide adequate protection, Rodgers has a strong chance of having a successful season. However, if the offensive line fails to protect him, his season could once again be cut short due to injury.
By Paul A. Esden Jr. – New York Jets Correspondent