A lot of the talk surrounding the Jets' offensive line this offseason has been about the revamped left side featuring All-Pro LT Tyron Smith and veteran LG John Simpson. With the reacquisition of RT Morgan Moses and the return of RG Alijah Vera-Tucker, however, the Jets are just as excited about the potential on the right side.
"We are off to a great start," Moses said about building chemistry with Vera-Tucker. "We're gelling, the conversations and we sit beside each other in the meeting room, too, so like there's things that we're going over to film, I'm like, 'hey, like you see how this guy does that? Like if we can do that,' we're just talking football, so we're getting that chemistry on the field and we're getting that chemistry off the field."
Moses and Vera-Tucker played one season together, in 2021. The duo started 16 games with Moses at right tackle and Vera-Tucker, a rookie, at left guard. They built a strong bond that has been rekindled two seasons later.
"The more experience you have the better," Vera-Tucker said. "I'm blessed to be out here and doing my thing and working with Morgan Moses. He's been a veteran in this league for a long time at right tackle so just being with someone like that who's comfortable and knowing what to do, it feels good."
Moses added: "[Vera-Tucker] has grown so much since 2021 when I was here, and he was a rookie. I have been able to see the steps he has taken in his career, and he is definitely an amazing football player and an amazing guard."
Moses spent the first seven years of his career with Washington before signing with the Jets in 2021, and a year later with the Ravens. This past March, the Jets acquired Moses and a fourth-round pick for a fourth- and a sixth-round pick. Moses, coming off a torn pectoral he played with his last year in Baltimore, did not participate in OTAs , but rejoined the team a week into training camp.
Vera-Tucker spent the last two seasons, when Moses was in Baltimore (2022-2023), battling injuries. In 2022, he sustained a torn triceps and missed the final 10 games. And in 2023, he sustained a torn Achilles tendon, forcing him to miss the final 12 games. The Jets' former first round pick (No. 14) rehabbed all offseason and, similar to Moses, during the first week of training camp.
"The good thing about this is that we both coming off of injuries and learning this system together," Moses said. "We are learning how to complement each other's games and there are things that he sees, and I see that we like, and we are gelling."
Moses has been impressed by Vera-Tucker's maturity and improvement since his rookie year. Over the 12 games Vera-Tucker has played since his 2021, the former USC Trojan has been one of the league's best and most versatile guards. He has started games at RG, LG, RT and LT over that span and received a 70.7 grade by Pro Football Focus.
"He is still a quiet guy, but a great guy," Moses said. "I think, for him, over the years he has been pushed in so many directions and now he finally gets to focus on one position and take care of that position. He is finding football to be more comfortable for him at one position and not having to move all around. Plus having veteran guys around him, he can take the techniques he is learning and sprinkle in his flavor."
Heading into his fourth season expecting to play only right guard, Vera-Tucker is energized by the plan and believes the consistency will lead to success.
"It is a good feeling knowing that they are going to take care of me and that I get to develop at one position," Vera-Tucker said. "This is first time since my rookie year that I will get to be at one position. I was at left guard all my first year and I felt like I ended strong. I am glad to be at one position and going back into my past."
