One of the biggest takeaways from the 2023 season for the New York Jets was how much work their roster needs. They believed they could be Super Bowl contenders with Aaron Rodgers in the fold, but even if he had been healthy during the season, it is hard to imagine the team would have found much success.
One of the reasons that the offensive production cratered was the performance of the offensive line. The Jets’ quarterback group of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Seimian certainly didn’t light the world on fire, but in some instances, the offensive line didn’t even give them a chance to succeed.
If the Jets are going to find any success in 2024, they need to find some answers in the trenches. Spending a first-round pick on one of the top-rated tackles in the 2024 NFL Draft would certainly be a good way to fix things.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Olu Fashanu, NFL Draft, New York Jets Updates
And that is exactly what Mel Kiper Jr. has them doing in his recent mock draft. With the No. 10 overall pick, the Jets land Olu Fashanu out of Penn State. He will give them an immediate building block along the offensive line for a unit in desperate need of an upgrade.
“One year after the Jets got jumped by the Steelers in Round 1 and lost out on Broderick Jones, here’s a chance for New York to get its left tackle of the present and future. It’s the biggest void on the offense, especially with Mekhi Becton hitting free agency. As quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes his return to the lineup, he’d be thrilled to have Fashanu protecting his blind side.
At 6-foot-6, 319 pounds, Fashanu has the physical traits and footwork of an elite lineman. He could have been a first-rounder in last year’s draft if he had entered. He allowed one sack in 21 career starts for the Nittany Lions. He still hasn’t come close to reaching his ceiling,” wrote Kiper.
While some fans would love to see the Jets add another playmaker to their offense, as the wide receiver group beyond Garrett Wilson is lacking, the offensive line is a more pressing need. It doesn’t matter how good your pass catchers are if the quarterback doesn’t have time in the pocket to get the ball to them.
NFL NEWS & RUMORS: Olu Fashanu, NFL Draft, New York Jets Updates
Fashanu is one of the most highly-rated prospects in this year’s draft class. ESPN has him as the No. 1 rated offensive tackle and No. 4 player overall. Using those metrics, it is a steal for the Jets to come away with him at No. 10.
After swinging and missing on Mekhi Becton in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, going after Fashanu makes a lot of sense for New York. With Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker locked in as foundational pieces on the interior, Fashanu could help round the group out as a franchise left tackle.
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