Jump to content

Jets Draft Olu Fashanu: How he fits ...


Recommended Posts

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. 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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. 

  • Upvote 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Upvote 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 

  • Upvote 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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!

  • Upvote 1
  • Sympathy 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...