Jets trade back and take Olu Fashanu

Edition #622

Good morning ☕

So the first round of the NFL Draft is in the books and I thought it was worth getting a quick note out there for us all to discuss how we're feeling following the Jets pick.

I had a quick look online and the reaction seems to be mixed. You either love the future proofing, or you think it's a missed opportunity to add a playmaker.

First of all let's take a look at the trade.

The Jets traded picks 10 and 203 (6th) for 11, 129 (4th) and 157 (5th). The 6th round pick going to Minnesota is the same pick the Jets received from Denver for Zach Wilson. Picking up a 4th and 5th to move back just one place is a great deal.

The Jets then used that pick on Penn State OT Olu Fashanu, widely considered one of the best prospects in the draft. Joe Douglas called him "a really high level, high impact pass protector” and it was his natural feel at LT that separated him from the pack.

Fashanu allowed just 1 sack on nearly 700 pass blocking snaps at Penn state and allowed a pressure rate of 1.1% and according to ESPN stats he suffered a blown block at the 3rd-lowest rate in the FBS since 2021 (min. 1,000 snaps at OT).

The Jets worked to fix their offensive line in 2024 by trading for Simpson and Moses and signed Tyron Smith. But the tackle situation remained dire past 2024 with both starters set to hit free agency. There's also the injury factor with Smith who misses games every year. With the Jets managing his practice reps, Fashanu will get plenty of opportunities to develop and he'll be learning from two of the best in the business.

Bowers would have been a great pick and well see if he goes on to be one of the best picks in the draft in Vegas, but there is a real logic to taking someone like Fashanu. Last season the Jets experienced a number of injuries up front and had Aaron not got injured at the start of the season, it's likely he would have playing behind a line that started Warren and Mitchell.

So while it's not a headline grabbing move, it's a smart move. Especially when you consider how deep this draft is at receiver. The Jets will add playmakers at some point, it's just not going to be in the first round.

Aaron Rodgers gave his thoughts on the pick when he appeared on the Pat McAfee show and he said "a great pick by Joe (Douglas). We trust Joe. It wasn't necessarily the top of the needs, but I know they really loved Olu. I love what Joe did, moving back and getting a couple of extra picks."

On Fashanu: "Olu is a mauler. He had an incredible career at Penn State. He's not going to jump into tackle right away. We'll see if we can work him in at guard. I think he's going to have a long career in the league, much longer than I'm going to be in New Jersey."

That's a strange thought about him working at guard considering the Jets have Simpson and AVT pencilled in there and Joe D seemed to indicate his ability to play LT naturally was a big reason they drafted him, but we'll see what happens in camp.

Fashanu did say that Tyron Smith was one of his idols growing up, and now he'll get the opportunity to learn behind and eventually take over from him. It's a good landing spot for Fash.

I do have the feeling that had the Bears not taken Odunze we'd be having a different conversation. But with him off the board they took the player they thought offered them the best value over the next 10 years.

We'll see what they do the rest of the way, but my feeling is we're going to see a Wide Receiver with the next pick. But how are you feeling about what we've done?