Rookie left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker was a silver lining for the New York Jets throughout a dismal 2021 season. The Southern California product started 16 games and played a team-high 1,026 offensive snaps, consistently showing flashes of the elite talent that prompted New York to trade up and grab him with the 14th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
Vera-Tucker was particularly impressive in the run game. When New York forged a successful run play, No. 75 could often be seen leading the way. The Jets amassed eight rushes for 10+ yards on carries that went through the left-side A-gap (the space between Vera-Tucker and the center), their best total into any particular gap.