The New York Jets had a successful first night of the 2024 NFL Draft. They seized an opportunity to trade down, compiling more picks and assets to use later on in the draft to continue upgrading their roster.
When they made their pick, at No. 12 overall, they came away with Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu. It was a perfect marriage of value and need. Fashanu was considered the No. 2 offensive tackle in this year’s class and New York had a glaring need in the trenches along the offensive line.
The Jets are all in on 2024. To have as much success as they are hoping to, they need to ensure that Aaron Rodgers is protected and kept upright, able to make throws down the field and get the ball into the hands of his playmakers.
Adding Fashanu to a remade offensive line will certainly help that. Rodgers made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show during the first round to comment on the Jets selecting Fashanu.
“I know they [the Jets’ front office] really loved Olu. I loved what Joe [Douglas] did, moving back and getting a couple more picks,” Rodgers explained. “He didn’t give up a sack I don’t think his entire college career which is saying a lot.
Olu is a mauler and he had an incredible career at Penn State,” Rodgers added about his newest teammates.
Fashanu will be joining a revamped unit that has brought in several new faces this offseason. In free agency, the team signed former Dallas Cowboys tackle Tyron Smith and guard John Simpson away from the Baltimore Ravens.
The Jets also completed a trade with the Ravens, bringing back veteran Morgan Moses to handle right tackle. With Alijah Vera-Tucker and Joe Tippman locked in as holdovers, New York’s offensive line should be infinitely better in 2024 than it was in 2023.
Given how much depth and talent the team has added this offseason, Rodgers gave some insight on what to expect from Fashanu in the early going. He won’t have to be thrown in the fire as a starting tackle, giving him time to develop.
“He’s [Fashanu] not going to need to jump in right away [into the starting lineup] at tackle for sure. We’ll see if we work him in at guard but I think he is going to have a long career in the league. Much longer than I’m going to be in New Jersey so excited for him and excited to welcome him to the team. It’s a great O-Line room. Very well coached. A lot of great personalities we added,” Rodgers said.
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