Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC. Would USC OL Alijah Vera-Tucker be the best ... - Raiders Wire The explosive prospect from Southern Cal excelled at guard in 2019 and looked even sharper as a tackle in 2020. “One name that I started hearing about over the weekend. The Raiders significantly reshuffled the offensive line over the course of free agency, trading away center Rodney Hudson, guard Gabe Jackson, and offensive tackle Trent Brown. There are few real weaknesses in Vera-Tucker’s game, at least when he is playing along the interior. According to Pro Football Focus, Vera-Tucker allowed just two quarterback hits in all of 2020 despite it being his first year at offensive tackle for USC. Due to his size and overwhelming strength, Alijah is a bully in the run game who … If the Raiders would like to aggressively rebuild their offensive line after trading away three-fifths of it this offseason, drafting Vera-Tucker would be one way to do that. 13. In those cases longer rushers can keep him from engaging by gaining his chest plate with a long-arm move or swatting his hands away with quick moves of their own. Morrissey started 47 games in college, 46 at center and one at right guard. My choice came down to Vera-Tucker and Michigan pass rusher Kwity Paye. Vera-Tucker is likely to go higher than Austin Jackson, who was the … He has the requisite athleticism to be a starting center in the NFL; it is simply a matter of whether he can master the skill. Alijah Vera-Tucker might not be the most highly regarded player in the upcoming draft, but he might be one of the cleanest prospects in the draft. Jeremiah has the Raiders nabbing USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker with their pick at 17. He is also able to absorb and neutralize powerful bull rushers, helping to keep a clean pocket into which his quarterback can step up. He’s also just 20-years old with his best football still ahead of him. Surveying 50 mock drafts, Owusu-Koramoah was named as the Raiders’ … 17 to the Las Vegas Raiders. Vera-Tucker was a really good left tackle at USC, but many believe he’ll be a guard at the next level. He has some of the best feet from an offensive tackle you will see and also can dominate in the run game. Here are the winners and losers of the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. In a matter of 24 hours, the name Alijah Vera-Tucker has been tossed around in two separate reports on the Raiders. They began with an offensive lineman and ended with one. He is a natural “knee bender” who easily sits into his stance, maintaining good hip and pad level, as well as a wide base. Las Vegas Raiders rumors continue to buzz with NFL Free Agency still ongoing and the 2021 NFL Draft just a few short weeks away. The strength of Vera-Tucker’s game is, aptly enough, his impressive play strength. That can make it difficult for him to get them up in time or when it comes to controlling defenders. Conceived in 1886, Sporting News … Justin Fields is everything that has eluded the Bears for a century. This might not be an exciting pick, but it’s one that will help build long-term stability for the Raiders’ offense with a reliable starter for the next five years (at least). We need two titles to tie John Wooden’s record. "Las Vegas continues to remake its offensive line. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Hondo S. Carpenter, Sr. To the point now where he relishes being doubted. Vera-Tucker starred at tackle for the USC Trojans, but has the flexibility to play inside. Even though Joe Douglas traded up nine spots to take guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, his contract will likely only be a four-year, fully-guaranteed $15.8 million deal, according to Spotrac. From Silver & Black Pride’s Bill Williamson: This mock fell pretty nicely for the Silver & Black. He is fast enough to stay ahead of the play as a pulling blocker, or when out in space after working to the second level or blocking for screen plays. NFL Draft Prospect Spotlight: Alijah Vera-Tucker The now former USC Trojan has some of the best offensive line versatility in the NFL Draft and the Raiders need someone just like him Author: Vera-Tucker has played at a variety of different spots on the offensive line and has excelled in all of them, making him the most versatile lineman in the 2021 class. This isn’t normally Vegas’ way of thinking, but it’s hard to pass up Vera-Tucker if he falls to the middle of the first round. Vera-Tucker played on the left side of the offensive line during his college career, but a transition over the right side shouldn’t be all that difficult. Vera-Tucker unlocks his play strength by combining it with solid lower body mechanics. He is a very physical blocker who doesn’t shy away from engaging with defenders. Finally, going hand-in-hand with Vera-Tucker’s play strength is his competitive toughness. And generally speaking, because guards just don’t have the athletic premium that an offensive tackle or EDGE player does, teams can find perfectly capable guards a bit later on. Joe Douglas got himself a much-needed interior lineman, but trading up for Alijah Vera-Tucker cost the Jets some draft capital. Please check your email for a confirmation. You'll now receive the top Raiders Wire stories each day directly in your inbox. Much like Darrisaw, I can see a scenario where Alijah Vera-Tucker is gone as early as No. 17 — USC Offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker: He’s been my pick for a while. But that’s fine; the Raiders can always use him there down the road if that is his best spot. The main point is that the Raiders simply can’t ignore their O-line with their first-round pick. It’s Alijah Vera-Tucker out of USC, an interior lineman,” Sports Illustrated ‘s Hondo Carpender said on Monday on the Pritch and Clay radio show . Or perhaps Alijah Vera-Tucker, an Oakland product who could slide in as the starting right tackle. 48, Las Vegas Raiders Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC A part of what is quietly a fantastic interior offensive line group for the 2021 draft, “AVT” presents an all … 17. Drafting Alijah Vera-Tucker at #17 almost makes too much sense. Alijah Vera-Tucker of USC tasted that moment on Thursday. One player that could intrigue the Raiders is USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, who has experience at both guard and tackle. In short, this is a value pick for Las Vegas. In a recent mock draft by Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports, that is who he gave the Raiders in the first round. By. But even so, there is obvious room for improvement along that offensive line. The good news is that since his lower body is generally sound, this should be correctable at the next level. Nate turned to football, but every step brought doubt in his abilities from coaches and scouts that he had to overcome. But while he is adequate for a backup or spot starter in case of emergency, he doesn’t have the length or range to be a safe option on the edges as a full-time starter. From there it’s usually a matter of slipping past him and into the backfield. He is athletic enough to be an accurate blocker at the second level and frequently looks to block linebackers or defensive backs out of the frame, or finish with the defender on the ground. His play strength allows him to not only match up and win one-on-one situations as a pass protector and run blocker, but also not lose if things don’t go his way early in the rep. Vera-Tucker is able to create movement along the line of scrimmage as a run blocker, digging defenders out of gaps, stressing the defensive front on zone blocking runs, or preventing penetration from explosive rushers. Vera-Tucker is a good athlete for an interior lineman, with enough agility and quickness to mirror interior rushers in pass protection or to stay in sync with his linemates on outside zone rushing plays. Vera-Tucker might not be a regular starter at offensive tackle, but he can play both guard positions and should be able to learn how to play the center position. It's because of he strength that she is his hero. Alijah Vera-Tucker, G, USC: 4/5: Pro Football Focus (Linsey) ... For all the grief the Raiders received for taking tackle Alex Leatherwood in the first round, they are equally getting praise for trading up and landing arguably the draft's top safety in the second round. If the Raiders want him to be a pure pass protector, he could be a long-term starter opposite Kolton Miller. He was just 12 years old when his mother would be left alone to raise him and his three siblings. Sign up for the Raiders Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. ... Don't miss any of the latest up to the second updates for your Las Vegas Raiders when you follow on Twitter @HondoCarpenter. The redshirt-junior stands at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds, and despite below-average arm length, he was dominant at left tackle for the Trojans in 2020. He usually has heavy, active hands and fits them well to gain inside leverage (ie: on defenders’ chests and inside their shoulders); they can occasionally fall low and wide after the snap. While the team needs defensive help, especially in the secondary, the talent level just doesn’t match up well with the value of No. Vera-Tucker has been projected in the low 20s in various other mock drafts. Vera-Tucker gives USC a … I like the value and his long-term projection at either right tackle or at guard. Alijah Vera-Tucker can be a plug-and-play starter for the Raiders OL, Instant grades for every first round 2021 NFL Draft pick. With just three weeks to go until the draft, consider Vera-Tucker at the top of the team’s wishlist late this month. It tracks, then, that offensive line is seen as an obvious choice for the Raiders in the draft. In the first round, Kiper predicted USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker for the Raiders. He wants to be the underdog and prove everyone wrong. In the second round, Kiper has the Raiders taking Central Florida safety Richie Grant. Over the last three years, he allowed a combined three quarterback hits and eight hurries for the Trojans. The chances of Alijah Vera-Tucker falling all the way to No. Vera-Tucker could stand to be more consistent in general with his hand usage as a blocker. I guess there's always undrafted free... With their final scheduled pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders have added a center. Our Western Illinois dynasty has four seasons left in College Hoops 2K8. Enter Vera-Tucker, who is one of the most solid players in the draft, and who’s “bad” tape playing out of position is still pretty good. Here are his thoughts on the potential pairing: “The Raiders could use a tackle on the right side after trading away Trent Brown. Vera-Tucker consistently hustles downfield to find defenders to block on screen plays or successful runs, and he often shows a nasty streak in space. I went with Vera-Tucker because offensive line is a more pressing positional need and I feel OK about that, because they are close to being the same type of prospect as far as ceilings go. They started the weekend with eight picks and finished with seven. Easterling himself mocked Vera-Tucker … That doesn’t mean that he can’t play the position, simply that it is an unknown. … Vera-Tucker may project long-term as a guard. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Alijah Vera-Tucker goes No. With the 14th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the New York Jets select USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, offensive lineman, USC. Ten years ago, Nate Hobbs's father died. 20 in the 2021 NFL draft are slim. Alijah Vera-Tucker is a versatile tackle who is expected to play guard at the next level and seems destined to get selected in the middle of the first round. The Jets traded up from 23 to 14, giving up the 23rd, 66th, and 86th overall picks to the Vikings. The Buccaneers could be the perfect landing spot for EDGE Gregory Rousseau, Jaelan Phillips would add to the Cardinals’ already scary defensive front, SB Nation NFL writers’ mock draft: Pick-by-pick entries, The gore, guts and horror of an NFL fumble pile, I understand why Andrew Luck retired, because I’ve been in his shoes, 10 unwritten rules to not screw up your NFL jersey number, The never-before-revealed details of the infamous Eli Manning draft-day trade. 14 to Jets. Let’s grade every first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. 17. Analysis: Vera-Tucker … However, it is considerably less likely that a team would be able to find a player like Vera-Tucker, who should not only be a plug-and-play starter but also have his level of versatility, outside of the first or early second rounds. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. Morrissey does have a bit of an injury history, missing time... Start every day with our most popular content waiting in your inbox. 17. But overcome them he did. This means the Raiders' full draft class is now official. With the 17th overall pick in the annual SB Nation writers’ mock draft, Silver & Black Pride selected USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker on behalf of the Las Vegas Raiders. And everything in-between was a defensive player. RD 2, No. There wasn’t any evidence of him playing center in the tape viewed nor in my background work on him. 230 pick in 2021 NFL Draft, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Vera-Tucker has experience playing (or backing up) both guard positions and he is athletic enough that he could potentially transition to the center position — assuming he can get the hang of snapping the ball. Carr has protection on both sides of the line.”. We are just 25 days away from the 2021 NFL draft and it’s becoming clear what the Raiders will likely do with their first selection. The 6 best remaining players in the 2021 NFL Draft after Round 1. Though, to be fair, the only position that had even a remote need was wide receiver. They did re-sign Richie Incognito and Denzelle Good, and signed former Texans center Nick Martin. He has short arms and might not be quite athletic enough to be a five position player, and that could stop him from being considered highly and letting him slip to the Raiders. These players will be the best available talents on Day 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft. Breaking down the New York Jets' selection of USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker in the 2021 NFL draft NFL draft: Why Jets fans should be excited about Alijah Vera-Tucker Teams He is willing — even eager — to block through the echo of the whistle and consistently looks for work when he doesn’t initially have anyone to block. One of the big questions when it comes to selecting an interior offensive lineman in the first round is whether or not the team could have gotten a player with similar upside at a later pick. April 29, 2021 7:12 pm The New York Jets have selected USC Trojans offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker with the No. That’s good news for a team that has questions at several spots along their offensive line. https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2021/04/04/would-usc-ol-alijah-vera-tucker-be-the-best-possible-pick-for-raiders-at-no-17/, Undrafted Free-Agent Tracker for the Las Vegas Raiders, Raiders fourth-round S Tyree Gillespie takes most pride in being big hitter, run defender, Raiders fifth-round CB Nate Hobbs overcame tragedy and adversity to realize NFL dream, Raiders wrap up 2021 NFL Draft class: Heavy on defense, no offensive skill position players, Raiders select C Jimmy Morrissey with No. • Alijah Vera-Tucker: USC’s first team all conference left tackle is projected to move to guard. 14 pick after the Jets traded up with the Minnesota Vikings to get a protector for new quarterback Zach Wilson. Vera-Tucker is a smart and athletic interior lineman, but strength is at the core of everything he does along the offensive line. 17. 5 winners and 3 losers from 2021 NFL Draft’s first round. Sporting News Video Hub One of the most iconic sports media brands. Alijah Vera-Tucker’s versatility and ability to play multiple positions on the offensive line garnered rave reviews leading up to the 2021 NFL draft. Vera-Tucker is one of the best and safest players in the draft." USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, who also projects as a guard, is a legacy pick in a sense in that he is from Oakland (Bishop O’Dowd High) and his coach was former Raiders … While Vera-Tucker is able to handle himself at tackle when he is able to meet power with power, his technique begins to break down when he has to cover a wider range to deal with speed rushers. Many … Alijah Vera-Tucker can be a plug-and-play starter for the Raiders OL Silver & Black Pride goes with a versatile offensive lineman with pick No. The Bears finally have hope at quarterback with Justin Fields. Jeremiah has the Raiders making this pick with tackles Christian Darrisaw and Teven Jenkins both still on the board. 14 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. The Las Vegas Raiders still need to address their offensive line, adding USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker would add versatility. And with the Raiders having such a big need at right tackle too, it appears they could be in the perfect spot to grab a quality offensive lineman. They have selected Jimmy Morrissey from Pittsburgh, who will likely compete for a roster spot on the initial roster. USC offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker: ... Again, who cares if the Raiders added a bunch of pass rushers already this offseason — if Paye can be great, draft him. That not only allows him to keep good leverage while engaging with defenders, but also good balance to avoid lunging or to stay in front of pass rushers. Vera-Tucker is an extremely versatile lineman who thrived in the zone-blocking scheme, which is exactly what the Jets need. Draft Raiders Preview Football FILE - Southern California lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker participates in the school's pro day football workout for NFL scouts in Los Angeles, in this Wednesday, March 24, 2021, file photo. It was the first time in Gruden's return as head coach that they didn't draft an offensive skill position player. The same can’t be said about the offensive linemen in the first round, as there are a number of players worth a top-20 selection. He was also a team captain this year, which is a trait that Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock love in their Day 3 picks. He backed up the offensive tackle position earlier in his college career and started at left tackle in his final season at USC. The Las Vegas Raiders spent the free agency period dismantling their offensive line and mostly ignoring the secondary. He was a walk-on but was named the nation's top walk-on during the 2020 season. Vera-Tucker offers versatility as he can play guard or tackle. The 6-4, 308-pounder is the consensus best guard in the draft and the only sure-fire first-round pick. The 2021 NFL Draft is officially over. Both would help the Raiders and I think Las Vegas would be happy to land either Vera-Tucker or Paye. No. What was missing from this draft entirely was an offensive skill position player. Washington doesn’t need a guard, but there is a glaring need for a left tackle. 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