The Pittsburgh Steelers and 31 other teams are looking around the NFL as the legal tampering period begins on Monday. With the pro day circuit at full steam ahead, the team still has to scout those players, too. Oregon State’s pro day is on Monday, and Taliese Fuaga is up first. According to Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy, Steelers offensive line coach Pat Meyer is in attendance to watch Fuaga.
“I would say my game is aggressive,” Fuaga said. “Sometimes too aggressive. I like to set the tone sometimes to get guys going. That’s one of the biggest things that I like to bring to the table, being aggressive.”
He certainly is that, and in run-blocking even more so. He dominates defenders on double teams and has the athleticism to climb to the second level and wreak havoc there, as well.
While plenty of teams have interest in Fuaga, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a desire to replace Dan Moore at tackle, again, after attempting to do so with Broderick Jones in 2023. Jones ended up playing right tackle, even though he says he’s better suited to the left.
There are a raft of OL-needy teams starting at No. 13 where the Las Vegas Raiders pick, and continuing through the New Orleans Saints at No. 14, Seattle Seahawks at No. 16, Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 17, Cincinnati Bengals at No. 18, Los Angeles Rams at No. 19, Steelers at No. 20, and Miami Dolphins at No. 21. Fuaga should go in that range, and so it’s not a surprise that Pittsburgh is out there scouting him.
Fuaga doesn’t give up many clean looks, but he can get turned back inside if he sets too aggressively. His losses are slow to come, and because he’s played right tackle, are easy for quarterbacks to see coming. That’s why he didn’t give up a single sack in his two-year career as a starter, despite not necessarily projecting as a dominant NFL pass protector.