New England Patriots
Meet the Patriots’ latest offensive guard.
After permitting Drake Maye to be sacked for a grand complete of 68 occasions between the regular-season and postseason, the Patriots made a transfer to strengthen their offensive line.
They added former Jets first-round decide Alijah Vera-Tucker, a flexible participant who primarily spends time on the guard place.
New England is making modifications on the inside. They traded beginning middle Garrett Bradbury to the Bears. Jared Wilson, who began at left guard as a rookie, has expertise taking part in middle in school, nevertheless it stays to be seen the place the Patriots find yourself placing him. Mike Onwenu, the highest-paid participant on New England’s offensive line, spent the majority of his time at proper guard final season.
At age 26, Vera Tucker supplies a mixture of expertise and youth up entrance for the Patriots. He has began 43 video games. He’s aware of the AFC East. He’s been teammates with Morgan Moses earlier than.
However, he has additionally had points staying on the sphere. He missed all of final season with a triceps damage.
The Patriots are betting that he’ll be capable of keep wholesome in 2026 and past. Listed here are 5 issues to know in regards to the latest addition to New England’s offensive line.
He primarily performs proper guard, and so does Mike Onwenu
Vera-Tucker has started at least one game at every position on the offensive line except center. He made the majority of his begins (20) at proper guard, however has additionally spent an identical period of time (16 video games) at left guard.
He additionally spent seven video games filling in as a deal with, with six at proper deal with and one at left deal with.
Onwenu, who has additionally moved across the line at occasions up to now, settled in at proper guard final season.
Left guard looks like a place the place the Patriots would have room to make modifications. The Patriots had a pair of rookies (Wilson and Will Campbell) defending Drake Maye’s blind aspect final season. Each gamers struggled within the playoffs. Sliding Vera-Tucker into the left guard spot would immediately give the Patriots extra expertise on the left aspect, together with upside if he can keep wholesome.
His damage historical past makes him a little bit of a bet for New England
Vera-Tucker didn’t play a single sport final season. He tore his Achilles’ in 2023 and had a separate season-ending triceps damage in 2022. He has missed 42 of the 85 doable Jets video games since he was drafted in 2021.
The shortage of availability has been a difficulty. He’s a gifted participant, however he has had a tough street early on coping with these accidents.
“It’s positively a tough course of to undergo,” Vera-Tucker advised reporters throughout his introductory press convention. “I really feel like several athlete who has been via accidents understands that. It used to upset me as a result of I’m taking part in at such a excessive stage for my group balling out and every little thing, after which taking place harm, not with the ability to play on the sphere with my group and my brothers.
“It’s simply one thing I’ve needed to be taught to cope with, however sooner or later I’m feeling actually assured in myself, actually assured on this group and this coaching workers to get me via a number of seasons right here.”
Morgan Moses helped persuade him to decide on the Patriots
Morgan Moses, the Patriots’ beginning proper deal with, spent a quick stint with the Jets the place he was a teammate of Vera-Tucker’s.
Moses, who signed with the Patriots in free company final 12 months, helped the group make a constructive impression on Vera-Tucker as he weighed his choices throughout free company.
“I might say it positively performed an element, simply Morgan being the kind of man that he’s. I knew I might belief his opinion on this place,” Vera-Tucker mentioned. “So, after speaking to him for some time, it positively performed an element into me coming right here.”
The Patriots’ playoff run didn’t harm, both. Mike Vrabel’s teaching workers was additionally seen as a plus.
“I might say the free company course of was completely different. It was my first time doing that,” Vera-Tucker mentioned. “I might say a good quantity of groups have been , however making the choice, what it got here right down to was going to a spot that had a longtime tradition of profitable, guys who simply love the sport and love taking part in for one another and clearly the teaching workers as effectively. All these elements got here into play and I’m excited.”
He grew up with two units of fogeys
Vera Tucker’s dad and mom divorced when he was younger. They’ve each since remarried.
He counts all 4 individuals as his dad and mom. In accordance with a 2019 profile revealed by his alma mater College of Southern California, it’s a part of why he chooses to put on each households’ names on his jersey.
“I grew up in two households all my life,” Vera-Tucker mentioned. “Simply with the ability to present appreciation to the Vera household and the Tucker household on the similar time has all the time been a ardour of mine. Having these two names as a substitute of 1, it appears like I’ve extra energy. And it appears like I’m nearer to every household.”
He’s proud to symbolize his Mexican heritage
NFL.com produced a video in 2023 highlighting Vera-Tucker’s Mexican heritage.
Throughout an interview revealed on NewYorkJets.com, Vera-Tucker mentioned he’s proud to symbolize that a part of his id.
“It’s a uncommon alternative,” Vera-Tucker mentioned. “There’s not a whole lot of us from Mexican heritage within the NFL, so with the ability to be a type of representatives I really feel like holds a whole lot of weight. I’m proud to be one in all them.
“Yearly it’s cool throughout the Heritage Month, the NFL reaches out wanting you to do issues and I’m all for it. Even the little issues like placing the flag on the again of the helmet, I feel that’s actually cool. It’s cool to put on that helmet or the flag with satisfaction.”
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