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2026 Saints Player Preview: Taliese Fuaga
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- 2026 Saints Player Preview: Taliese Fuaga
Just a few years ago, the New Orleans Saints offense was in a really bad spot, nearing its breaking point. Ryan Ramczyk 's injuries were becoming a major storyline the Saints could no longer avoid, and whoever was going to play QB needed more protection and consistency from that group. Also, on the left side of the line, the group of James Hurts at LT, Trevor Penning at LG, and Andrus Peat at LG was nowhere near good enough.
Major work needed to be done to fix the offensive line because no team in the NFL can succeed with this group, especially the Saints, who had QB issues. So, entering the 2024 Draft, the Saints knew they needed to get their new franchise tackle, especially with the Ramczyk issue. With the 14th overall pick, New Orleans got their guy, selecting Taliese Fuaga out of Oregon State.
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Entering the draft, Fuaga was considered to be a college tackle who would move to guard in the NFL. He didn't reach (no pun intended) the length requirements for some teams and scouts, which is why that belief was born. But for the Saints, they viewed him as a tackle, and thank goodness they did.
Right away, when Fuaga was put at LT, it was clear the difference in talent he was bringing to the team. He was not just great; he was dominant. Against top-tier pass rushers, Fuaga was a wall, and in the run game, he would send defenders 10 yards away from the play.
He was one of the rare bright spots on this roster and, going into 2025, was the likely franchise LT. The Saints felt like they needed another tackle, and after selecting Kelvin Banks Jr. in the first round, they moved Fuaga to RT. This was his college position, so the transition would be easy. As expected, there was really no difference in how Fuaga played on either side, but last season was not as bright as his rookie season.
Throughout the season, Fuaga dealt with injuries that either sidelined him or really affected his play. At times, he looked like the dominant tackle we all expect him to be, but on other plays, it was clear the injuries were making a significant impact.
In 2026, Fuaga is going to be right back into his RT spot, but the focus is on his injuries. It's becoming a consistent issue, and a healthy season would put some worries to rest.
