Saints sign first-round OT Taliese Fuaga to $17.3M deal

Field Level Media|published: Thu 9th May, 17:24 2024

Apr 25, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Oregon State Beavers tackle Taliese Fuaga is selected as the No. 14 pick of the first round by the New Orleans Saints during the 2024 NFL Draft at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza. credits: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Saints first-round pick Taliese Fuaga signed a fully guaranteed four-year contract on Thursday worth $17.3 million with a team option for a fifth season.

Fuaga was the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and is expected to start immediately with the offensive line in flux in front of starting quarterback Derek Carr.

The team shared a video of Carr embracing Fuaga as they arrived at the team facility.

Carr ?? Fuaga# Saints pic.twitter.com/Op7PZWV5Sx
— New Orleans Saints (@ Saints) May 9, 2024

The contract matches the maximum draft slot afforded the Saints with the 14th pick.

Fuaga started 25 games at right tackle for Oregon State and could be tried at left tackle. Trevor Penning, a first-round pick in 2022 who was injured in his first training camp, was benched last season and replaced by Andrus Peat. But Peat left in free agency to sign with the Raiders.

Ryan Ramczyk is the returning starter at right tackle but he's coming back from offseason knee surgery.

A consensus first-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2023, Fuaga was the third offensive tackle drafted during a run on offensive players that lasted until the Colts selected UCLA defensive end Laiatu Latu 15th.

Notre Dame's Joe Alt (Chargers, No. 5 overall), Alabama's JC Latham (Titans, No. 7) and Penn State's Olu Fashanu (Jets, No. 11) have not yet signed their rookie deals.

—Field Level Media