Countdown to Kickoff: Taliese Fuaga is the Saints Player of Day 75

Only 75 days remain until the New Orleans Saints begin their 2026 regular season. The Saints will be on the road to start 2026, traveling to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Third-year offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga wears No. 75 with the Saints.

>Fuaga has lived up to the expectations of a first round pick so far. He and second-year tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. gives the Saints a top-tier pair of edge blockers on the offensive line. Our Saints Player of the Day features continue with a look at Fuaga.

Name (age): Taliese Fuaga (24) • >Hometown: Tacoma, Wash. • >Position: Offensive tackle • >Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 324 pounds • >College: Oregon State Beavers • >Relative Athletic Score: 9.71 • >Drafted: Round 1, 14th overall in 2024 (Saints) • >NFL experience: 2 years • >2026 salary cap hit: $4.74 millionFrom Mount Tacoma High School in Washington, Fuaga stayed near the northwest coast by attending Oregon State. He'd play sparingly his first two years, appearing in 14 games as a backup lineman. By 2022, Fuaga had won the starting right tackle job and earned 2nd Team All-Pac-12 recognition with his play. Fuaga stayed at right tackle in 2024 and was one of the nation's most dominant linemen. He'd finish his career with the Beavers with first-team recognition on both the All-Pac-12 and All-American honors.

>In desperate need of a tackle heading into the 2024 NFL draft, the Saints selected Fuaga with the 14th overall pick. He was the fourth tackle chosen in the draft and one of eight tackles that came off the board in the first round. Fuaga was installed as an instant starter on the offensive line. After playing his college career at right tackle, however, he was asked to make the switch to the left tackle position.

>Fuaga embraced the change and showed standout play instantly. He was one of the few bright spots on the New Orleans offense in 2024, exhibiting All-Pro potential as both a run blocker and in pass protection. Fuaga started all 17 games at left tackle, playing 98% of the offensive snaps. His 1,134 total snaps trailed only Trevor Penning (1,146) and Alontae Taylor (1,185) on the entire team.

>After drafting Kelvin Banks in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints moved Fuaga back to right tackle. While his more natural spot, Fuaga dealt with nagging injuries all season and the nuances of a second position change in as many years. He'd miss four games and half of a fifth, playing in 814 (96%) of the offensive snaps. Even while slowed by injuries, Fuaga maintained a high level of play.

>Now healthy and in the same position of a second straight offseason, expect a strong performance from Fuaga. He still shows the traits of an All-Pro player and is one of the young building blocks of the New Orleans offense.

>This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Taliese Fuaga is the Saints Player of Day 75