Pats Pulpit
Despite starting a pair of rookies on the left side, the New England Patriots offensive line performed at a decent level during the 2025 season. Unfortunately for the group, it failed to sustain the performance into the playoffs.
New England’s postseason struggles particularly in pass protection prompted more investment into the group, including in that left side: with Jared Wilson moving to his natural position at center, a new left guard was needed. The Patriots opted for experience this time around, and for immense upside.
Name: Alijah Vera-Tucker
Position: Guard
Jersey number: 75
Opening day age: 27 (6/17/1999)
Measurements: 6’ 4 1/2”, 308 lbs, 32 1/8” arm length, 9 5/8” hand size, 5.102s 40-yard dash, 7.70s three-cone drill, 4.63s short shuttle, 32” vertical jump, 8’10” broad jump, 32 bench press reps, 9.77 Relative Athletic Score
NFL teams: New York Jets (2021-25), New England Patriots (2026-) | College: USC (2018-20)
An Under Armour All-American in high school, where he played both offensive tackle and defensive end, Vera-Tucker committed to USC as a four-star recruit. Moving to offensive guard at USC, Vera-Tucker served as a reserve his redshirt freshman season appearing in 12 games. He then took over a starting role the following year at left guard, where he went on to earn AP All-Pac-12 First-Team honors.
Named a captain in 2020, Vera-Tucker started all six games in USC’s Covid-condensed season back at left tackle. He again earned All-Pac-12 honors and won the 2020 Morris Trophy as the conference’s top offensive lineman.
Declaring for the 2021nNFL Draft, Vera-Tucker was selected 14th overall by the New York Jets — with the team trading up one spot ahead of the Patriots, who went on to select Mac Jones. The first-rounder started 16 games at left guard his rookie season. Moving to right guard in his second NFL season, injuries up front forced Vera-Tucker to then start one game at left tackle and two at right tackle. He then suffered an injury of his own as a torn right triceps landed him on season-ending injured reserve in Week 7.
Injuries have continued to plague Vera-Tucker as he suffered a torn achilles the following year before missing all of 2025 with a torn left triceps. Sandwiched in between those seasons was a healthy 2024, however, where he turned in an elite season at right guard.
Strengths: Vera-Tucker is a strong athlete at the guard position testing above the 90th percentile in Relative Athletic Score back at the 2021 NFL Combine. That shows in the run game as he can fire out of his stance and reach blocks in outside zone schemes and as a puller. Vera-Tucker’s athletic ability also allows him to keep up with interior lineman in pass protection while he also can win at times with his play strength.
Weaknesses: Availability has been the biggest weakness of Vera-Tucker’s career as he’s suffered three season-ending injuries in his first five years as a pro. When healthy, he...
