AV #75

Alijah Vera-Tucker

Guard · USC

A former USC first-rounder whose immense talent up front has repeatedly been undercut by a brutal run of injuries.

Alijah Vera-Tucker entered the league as a top-15 pick with a reputation as one of the safest offensive line prospects in his class. He has shown flashes of that ceiling in New York, but recurring injuries, including two separate triceps tears and a torn Achilles, have limited how much of his prime the league has actually seen.

★ First-round pick, 14th overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft

★ PFWA All-Rookie Team selection (2021)

★ Won the Morris Trophy at USC (2020)

Path to the league

Vera-Tucker was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection at USC and won the 2020 Morris Trophy, honoring the conference's top offensive and defensive linemen. The New York Jets, after trading up with Minnesota, selected him 14th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Vera-Tucker started 16 games and logged over 1,000 offensive snaps as a rookie, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. When healthy, he has graded as one of the more versatile interior blockers in the league, capable of playing multiple line spots, and his 2024 season was among the best of his career as he stayed on the field for 15 games.

2025 season recap

Vera-Tucker's 2025 season ended early after he tore his triceps during a practice drill, the second time in his career he suffered that specific injury. The setback required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, extending a pattern of missed time that has defined much of his career since his standout rookie year.