After years of flying under the radar, New York Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker is finally getting the recognition he deserves.
Pro Football Focus’ Jonathon Macri recently named Vera-Tucker the “most underrated player” on the Jets roster entering the 2025 season. It’s a title that reflects the 2021 first-round pick’s quiet but significant contributions in the trenches—particularly during his 2024 campaign.
“Vera-Tucker hasn’t played more than 432 snaps in a season since his 2021 rookie year, which has led to some disappointment in the former 14th overall pick. But 2024 was Vera-Tucker’s best season yet,” Macri wrote.
“He played 15 games, earning a career-high 77.7 PFF overall grade and a career-high pass-blocking grade of 74.5. That mark ranked 12th among qualifying guards in 2024 and aligns more closely with the expectations of a former top-15 pick.”
Vera-Tucker Emerging from a Crowded Line
Despite being a key piece of the offensive line, Vera-Tucker has often been overshadowed by the Jets' other high-profile investments up front. Since 2020, New York has used four top-14 draft picks on offensive linemen—more than any team in the NFL.
In 2024, the team drafted Olu Fashanu as their left tackle of the future.
Then, in 2025, they doubled down with the selection of Armand Membou at No. 7 overall to lock down the right tackle position. Add in the presence of John Simpson, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal last offseason and exceeded expectations, and Joe Tippmann, who was one of the top centers in the NFL in 2024, and it’s easy to see how AVT’s steady performance was overlooked.
Tippmann, in particular, was a standout both on and off the field. Graded as the eighth-best run blocker and ninth overall center by PFF, he also became a fan favorite thanks to his signature mullet, earning the nickname “The Wisconsin Waterfall.”
Contract Decisions Looming for Jets in 2026
While the Jets have built a promising foundation on the offensive line, tough financial decisions lie ahead. Both Vera-Tucker and John Simpson are set to hit free agency after the 2025 season. The team can only use the franchise tag on one player, and in the NFL, the tag doesn’t distinguish between tackles, guards, or centers.
That means the franchise tag value for offensive linemen—$23.4 million in 2025—applies equally across the board.
That loophole could benefit both AVT and Simpson, as it surpasses the current highest annual salary for a guard ($21 million, held by Landon Dickerson). In fact, due to the tag, Trey Smith of the Chiefs is technically the highest-paid guard in the league right now.
On top of that, Joe Tippmann will also be eligible for an extension next offseason. As a second-round pick, he does not have a fifth-year option like Vera-Tucker. Tippmann is under contract through 2026 and will be a free agent in 2027.
Jets’ O-Line Future at a Crossroads
With
Fashanu and Membou locked in on rookie deals, the Jets will need to make strategic decisions about how to retain their core up front. The resurgence of Vera-Tucker in 2024 has complicated the picture in the best way possible. If he continues to play at a high level, he’ll force the Jets to consider him a top priority—especially if they want to protect their young quarterback and power a playoff-caliber offense.
