New York Jets Get Huge Praise For First-Round OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu

Kenneth Teape

April 25, 2024

Coming into the 2024 NFL offseason, the New York Jets had a few pressing needs on their roster. Most of the holes were on the offensive side of the ball, where their level of production during the 2023 season was putrid.

Losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers certainly didn’t help, which led to the team turning the offense back over to Zach Wilson. Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian also got their shot at starting games and were unproductive.

But, any quarterback would have struggled to find success with the supporting cast the Jets had. Their weapons outside of wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall left a lot to be desired. On top of that, the offensive line was abysmal.

The Jets knew changes needed to be made, and upgrades were acquired in the offseason. The biggest upgrade came in the form of offensive tackle Olumuiwa Fashanu, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After completing a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and moving back one pick, the Jets selected Fashanu No. 12 overall. In need of an upgrade in the trenches, this was a selection that a former NFL executive who spoke to NFL Analysis Network liked a lot.

“The New York Jets had to add more protection for Aaron Rodgers. It was tempting to go for a guy like Brock Bowers, but Fashanu is the right pick. I love this for them and no one will be happier than their franchise quarterback.”

Tight end Brock Bowers certainly would have helped upgrade the passing game, giving the Jets another new weapon along with wide receiver Mike Williams. But, getting the ball into their hands would have been difficult with question marks on the offensive line still existing.

Those question marks, with the addition of Fashanu, are no longer as glaring. He was a stud offensive tackle at Penn State and should slide right into the lineup for New York as a rookie in the 2024 season.

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