Jets Draft Olu Fashanu: How he fits ...

[LAD_Brooklyn]

The New York Jets selected Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft. The Jets traded pick Nos. 10 and 203 to the Minnesota Vikings for Nos. 11, 129 and 157.

A skilled basketball player until his freshman year of high school, Fashanu was one of college football’s most athletic and powerful offensive tackles the last two seasons at Penn State. Fashanu has prototypical size for either tackle spot at 6-foot-6, 312 pounds with 34-inch arms and smooth movement skills.

Powerful throughout his frame, Fashanu — a Penn State team captain in 2023 — is a house of a man who is nearly impossible to bully or overpower at the point of attack. His hands, albeit a bit small, are fast and accurate. He’s a good climber in the run game and even a capable puller. Sometimes he’s dominant, sometimes he’s not.

Fashanu missed five games in 2022 with a meniscus injury and opted to return to school despite receiving first-round grades a year ago. He wasn’t as dominant as some thought he’d be in 2023 and has plenty to work on in pass pro technique. But Fashanu was 17 and inexperienced when he arrived in State College. He’s 21 now and should only get better.

NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
“The Athletic Football Show”: Watch live reaction to the draft

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Fashanu ranked No. 12 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“Though he flashes power and mobility in the run game, he tends to get overextended and struggles to sustain the point of attack (shows much better balance in reverse rather than moving forward). Overall, Fashanu is a work in progress as a run blocker but above average in pass protection, because of his body quickness, anchor versus power and attention to detail. He projects as a long-term starting left tackle in the NFL with Pro Bowl upside.”

Coaching intel

What an anonymous coach had to say about Fashanu in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:

“This is a big, great-looking dude. He comes off the ball well and is good with his hands, but there are times you’d expect him to finish better.”

Why he’s a first-round pick

A two-time All-American and the 2023 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, Fashanu was also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy (the “academic Heisman”) last season. He’s made insane progress since his freshman year and has All-Pro traits.

Come back for more analysis of Fashanu later.

(Photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images)

[nj meadowlands]

Love this pick.  Cope more @T0mShane!

[T0mShane]

2 minutes ago, nj meadowlands said:

Love this pick.  Cope more @T0mShane!

I’m pro-Olu and I think it shows uncharacteristic foresight. If you BowersBoys get a hankering, I’m sure you can head on over to Best Buy and talk to someone on The Geek Squad who looks exactly like that ******* dork. 

[T0mShane]

7 minutes ago, LAD_Brooklyn said:

“This is a big, great-looking dude. He comes off the ball well and is good with his hands, but there are times you’d expect him to finish better.”

 

[Joe W. Namath]

Boring pick.  But the correct pick.

Thank you Joe Douglas!  Thank you!!

[JiFtheOracle]

2 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

 

Makes sense, because I was just going to say, I think Fashanu lacks a punch.

[nj meadowlands]

6 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

I’m pro-Olu and I think it shows uncharacteristic foresight. If you BowersBoys get a hankering, I’m sure you can head on over to Best Buy and talk to someone on The Geek Squad who looks exactly like that ******* dork. 

I’m glad to hear it.  He was my favorite player early in the draft process before people started dinging him for having Donald Trump hands.  Dude is huge and seems like a good guy and football player. Getting upside at the most important line position is great. 

[GangGreened]

Like it way more than Bowers. The hit rate on TEs that early is so low, and I’m not counting on the fking NEW YORK JETS to break that trend

[T0mShane]

5 minutes ago, nj meadowlands said:

I’m glad to hear it.  He was my favorite player early in the draft process before people started dinging him for having Donald Trump hands.  Dude is huge and seems like a good guy and football player. Getting upside at the most important line position is great. 

Feels like Brick all over again. Cannot complain. 

[T0mShane]

8 minutes ago, JustInFudge said:

Makes sense, because I was just going to say, I think Fashanu lacks a punch.

I will punch you right in the jublies, pal

[DoubleDown]

This was the smart pick. This guy is a wall and will be the long term franchise LT.

Doesn't have the pressure of stepping in from day 1, but team will not sink if/when Smith or Moses go down. I think they will use him as a swing tackle to start the season.

[SickJetFan]

Will become good starter within two years

[JiFtheOracle]

1 minute ago, T0mShane said:

I will punch you right in the jublies, pal

That's fine, apparently it wont hurt.

[The Crusher]

24 minutes ago, LAD_Brooklyn said:

The New York Jets selected Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 pick in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft. The Jets traded pick Nos. 10 and 203 to the Minnesota Vikings for Nos. 11, 129 and 157.

A skilled basketball player until his freshman year of high school, Fashanu was one of college football’s most athletic and powerful offensive tackles the last two seasons at Penn State. Fashanu has prototypical size for either tackle spot at 6-foot-6, 312 pounds with 34-inch arms and smooth movement skills.

Powerful throughout his frame, Fashanu — a Penn State team captain in 2023 — is a house of a man who is nearly impossible to bully or overpower at the point of attack. His hands, albeit a bit small, are fast and accurate. He’s a good climber in the run game and even a capable puller. Sometimes he’s dominant, sometimes he’s not.

Fashanu missed five games in 2022 with a meniscus injury and opted to return to school despite receiving first-round grades a year ago. He wasn’t as dominant as some thought he’d be in 2023 and has plenty to work on in pass pro technique. But Fashanu was 17 and inexperienced when he arrived in State College. He’s 21 now and should only get better.

NFL Draft 2024 tracker: Live blog, pick-by-pick grades and analysis
Big board best available: Who’s left from Dane Brugler’s Top 300?
Draft pick grades: Nick Baumgardner, Scott Dochterman rate the selections
Full draft order: Team picks for all 257 selections
“The Athletic Football Show”: Watch live reaction to the draft

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Fashanu ranked No. 12 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“Though he flashes power and mobility in the run game, he tends to get overextended and struggles to sustain the point of attack (shows much better balance in reverse rather than moving forward). Overall, Fashanu is a work in progress as a run blocker but above average in pass protection, because of his body quickness, anchor versus power and attention to detail. He projects as a long-term starting left tackle in the NFL with Pro Bowl upside.”

Coaching intel

What an anonymous coach had to say about Fashanu in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:

“This is a big, great-looking dude. He comes off the ball well and is good with his hands, but there are times you’d expect him to finish better.”

Why he’s a first-round pick

A two-time All-American and the 2023 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, Fashanu was also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy (the “academic Heisman”) last season. He’s made insane progress since his freshman year and has All-Pro traits.

Come back for more analysis of Fashanu later.

(Photo: Joe Robbins / Getty Images)

Sounds like a solid pick at 12 with a couple snack in 4 and 5. 

[The Crusher]

4 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Feels like Brick all over again. Cannot complain. 

10 years not missing a start? If we must. 

[prime21]

Will become good starter within two years

2nd game


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[nyjets1969]

Like the pick wish they could have got someone else further back to trade up think this guy still be on the board at 14 or 15 he is not a day 1 starter. If they start him day 1 this guy could end up like becton

[Augustiniak]

5 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Feels like Brick all over again. Cannot complain. 

Very much so.  I’m impressed that jd stuck to his philosophy of taking the right positions and he seems to have learned from the becton fiasco.  It also sets the team up from when they move on from rodgers.  The OL looks nice again. 

[Claymation]

I was told back in January that the Jets wouldn’t have a chance to draft him because the Jets beat Commanders and the Pats.

 

[Jetsplayer21]

1 minute ago, DoubleDown said:

This was the smart pick. This guy is a wall and will be the long term franchise LT.

Doesn't have the pressure of stepping in from day 1, but team will not sink if/when Smith or Moses go down. I think they will use him as a swing tackle to start the season.

Exactly. Since we didn’t pick Broderick jones, or address OT in other drafts in years, this needed to be the pick. There was zero dependable depth on the bench, behind guys with extensive injury history. Rodgers is wasted if we can’t protect him, give him time to throw the dam ball. You could tell in camp last yr how frustrated he was in how bad the OL was. 

[T0mShane]

I love how Douglas is effectively telling Tyron Smith, “we expect you to perish soon.”

[T0mShane]

1 minute ago, Claymation said:

I was told back in January that the Jets wouldn’t have a chance to draft him because the Jets beat Commanders and the Pats.

 

Zero people told you that

[artemusclyde]

He'll probably take the starting RT job from Moses and be waiting in the wings to replace Tyron Smith.  Not a bad pick, but it's more of a long-term pick than a win now move like drafting Bowers would've been. I hate this pick though if the plan is for him to take Smith's job next season. 

[TuscanyTile2]

6 minutes ago, The Crusher said:

10 years not missing a start? If we must. 

 

 

[DoubleDown]

9 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

I love how Douglas is effectively telling Tyron Smith, “we expect you to perish soon.”

He knowingly signed a one year rental, prove it contract. He knows the deal. Been around a long time.

[Fantasy Island]

So glad our GM didn’t f**^ up

[August]

I’m not going to pretend like I know anything about him. I hope he works out for us. 

[Sarge4Tide]

Going to be brutal sitting through that 2nd round tomorrow without a pick

[Adoni Beast]

Love the pick and he’s massively underrated since January where he was originally 1B to Alt’s 1A.

[Sarge4Tide]

Be interesting to see what the Steelers do here 

[UnknownJetFan]

30 minutes ago, DoubleDown said:

This was the smart pick. This guy is a wall and will be the long term franchise LT.

Doesn't have the pressure of stepping in from day 1, but team will not sink if/when Smith or Moses go down. I think they will use him as a swing tackle to start the season.

Also can step inside at G as insurance for AVT. Jets stated they would rule out him playing inside if needed. Good to have versatility like that with him that he can play and initially backup at all line positions except for Center.

[Claymation]

 

[Tooooon]

3 minutes ago, Sarge4Tide said:

Going to be brutal sitting through that 2nd round tomorrow without a pick

Jets have a win-now team and picks in rounds 3, 4, 4, 5, 5.  I wouldn’t skip following round 2 tomorrow…

[Jolot]

26 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Zero people told you that

Correct , we said  those wins would cost us MHJ and Alt …which they did …anyway I like the pick , onward 

[JKlecko]

40 minutes ago, T0mShane said:

Feels like Brick all over again. Cannot complain. 

I hope that he will become a better run blocker than Brick, but even if not, if he can stay as healthy as Brick did, that would be awesome!