Alijah Vera-Tucker named to PFWA All-Rookie Team

Alijah Vera-Tucker represents New York Jets with rookie honors

The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) released its All-Rookie Team on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Making the list as one of two guards was Alijah Vera-Tucker, the New York Jets‘ lone representative on the list.

The PFWA selected Dallas Cowboys LB Micah Parsons as the 2021 Rookie and Defensive Rookie of the Year; Cincinnati WR Ja'Marr Chase selected as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Full All-Rookie honors: pic.twitter.com/B2Qx44F91L

— Pro Football Writers (@PFWAwriters) January 25, 2022

Kansas City’s Trey Smith joins Vera-Tucker as the second guard selected to the team.

Vera-Tucker had an inconsistent but highlight-filled rookie year in which he frequently showcased his upper-echelon potential while also proving to be a durable presence for an injury-ravaged Jets offense. He started 16 of the team’s 17 games, with his only missed game coming due to COVID-19.

No Jet played more offensive snaps than Vera-Tucker in 2021, who logged 1,026 snaps of valuable experience in his debut season after missing the entire preseason. Vera-Tucker ranked third on the entire team in offensive/defensive snaps played, trailing only C.J. Mosley (1,096) and Bryce Hall (1,169).

Vera-Tucker earned an overall grade of 66.8 at Pro Football Focus, which is slightly above the 2021 league average for guards (65.6). He was mostly solid in the run game but had ups and downs in pass protection.

Here is the PFWA’s complete All-Rookie Team:

• QB: Mac Jones, New England
• RB: Najee Harris, Pittsburgh; Javonte Williams, Denver
• WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati; Jaylen Waddle, Miami
• TE: Kyle Pitts, Atlanta
• C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City
• G: Trey Smith, Kansas City; Alijah Vera-Tucker, NY Jets
• T: Rashawn Slater, LA Chargers; Penei Sewell, Detroit
• DL: Christian Barmore, New England; Odafe Oweh, Baltimore; Kwity Paye, Indianapolis, Jaelan Phillips, Miami
• LB: Nick Bolton, Kansas City; Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland; Micah Parsons, Dallas
• CB: Greg Newsome II, Cleveland; Patrick Surtain II, Denver
• S: Jevon Holland, Miami; Tre’Von Moehrig, Las Vegas
• PK: Evan McPherson, Cincinnati
• P: Pressley Harvin III, Pittsburgh
• KR: Kene Nwangwu, Minnesota
• PR: Demetric Felton, Cleveland
• ST: Nick Niemann, LA Chargers