104 Comments

It was the best pick under the circumstances. Getting a top-quality tackle while just moving back one spot and getting two well-positioned mid-range picks is a good move. The team had to think strategically as well as tactically and this covers both bases pretty well.

They could not ignore the injury and availability concerns of both Moses and Smith, and having the EZ Pass twins Carter and Mitchell as prime backups is no consolation at all. The jets made the most logical and intelligent pick in the situation. AR can't throw while he's on his back and he's definitely NOT going to be scampering around out there either, lol.

They made their choice and people can just deal with it......or not. But the whiners will whine etc., etc., etc. What's done is done and lets look forward to what the next two days bring us.

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BTW, how are you enjoying the trip ?? The kids having fun ?? I hope so. Hoist one for me David.

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Actually I think it’s noon there now, he could be hoisting a few with his lunch

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Oh yeah, had a few Bintangs over lunch and having spent the morning at rice fields and waterfalls, now back at the hotel for a little relaxation. Looking forward to rounds 2-3 tomorrow and the Rangers playoff game of course. Kids are loving it, although finding it very hot...hottest they've been to is Spain but this is on another level with the humidity.

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Hoist more than one!

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It wasn’t the sexy move, but getting Olu could be the right move. I’m , sorry you keep him at Left Tackle, and let him learn his craft, don’t have him play multiple positions.Fashanu is healthy, only 21, Team Captain of course, is a great technician with an eye for detail., attributes his mobility and lateral movement to focusing on basketball early. Olu is 6’6 312, has a 34 inch reach, supposedly has very good grip strength but has small hands of 8.5, in contrast Latham has a hand size of 11, and Alt is at 10.

It’s a long way to 72, we are going to see the real depth of this WR class. It’s important that this draft keeps drafting Offensive Players, if not a WR at 72, possibly a RB , or an OG

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Keeping Olu at OT could definitely be in their plans, and maybe even just at LT. In one way, that would be the wisest course, but if Moses has to miss games, would you seriously want Warren or Mitchell on the field? I sure wouldn't. IF AVT does miss the first month or few weeks of the season, would you feel confident with Schweitzer or Hanson in there? Not me. I definitely think the Jets should draft an IOL in the 3rd or 4th round. For one thing, presently the only backup at C we have is Schweitzer, and he isn't good enough any more. Aside from Haines, Beebe, and Mahogany, there are some IOL that are worth considering. Tanor Bortolini, Hunter Nourzad, and there may be some others. Of course they might not be ready enough for the NFL to start if AVT can't, but they sound like pretty good prospects who would fit the Jets' scheme.

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No, No and No. No Turnstile Twins. Olu instead!

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With the top 3 wide receivers gone, the Jets did the right thing taking Fashanu. On draft night, offensive linemen taken in the first round offer no glitz, no wow factor.

In the 2006 draft, the Jets having 2 number ones took D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. ( please don’t bring up Becton). Those two picks were as unspectacular as possible.

In 10 NFL seasons, Brick never missed a game, actually missed one play. Mangold played 11 seasons, missed 12 games. Two of the most important positions in football, left tackle and center, always there, playing spectacular, but without glitz

Free agent offensive tackle,Tyron Smith, the last 4 seasons, out of a possible 66 games has only played 30.

Yes, Bowers might have helped but if Smith reverts to form, Fashanu will play.

As good as Rodgers is, he isnt able to pass lying on his back with the likes of Mitchell or Warren being major backups.

Wasn’t the trade down, fans expected but the Jets did get an extra 4 and 5.

I don’t understand the Jets having to give a pick back.

We of the NY Jets Torch and Pitchfork Brigade joke about throwing our tv remotes whenever the Jets make a first round pick.

Well, I guess the fans in Atlanta and Buffalo must have really peppered their walls.

In what has to be two of the worst draft decisions made in years.

The Falcons after giving Kirk Cousins a four year, brazillion dollar free agent contract last month drafted a 25 year old quarterback.

Buffalo not to be outdone with two of the best wide receivers available, traded back with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs jumped on the player who set a combine record for the 40

Two points, the Bills receiving corps is light but why are you giving Mahomes another target to torment you, especially the way the Chiefs scout wide receivers.

OTHER SOURCES

Aaron Rodgers, appearing on the @PatMcAfeeShow, offered his take on Olu Fashanu. He called it "a great pick by Joe (Douglas). We trust Joe."

More from Rodgers: "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."

From Connor Hughes SNY

The Jets selected Olu Fashanu with the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Let's break down how Gang Green did on Day 1...

Yes, the Jets could have used a playmaker. Yes, tight end Brock Bowers could have added another dimension to New York's offense. None of it would have mattered, though, if injuries decimated the line like they did a year ago. The Jets might look good on paper. They're bringing back Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker. They added John Simpson, Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith.

But Vera-Tucker, Smith and Moses have legitimate injury concerns. Specifically outside, the Jets have very little depth. They're one injury away from Carter Warren or Max Mitchell protecting Aaron Rodgers' blind side. Fashanu gives the Jets a much-needed insurance policy and future at the position. Remember: Both Smith and Moses are on one-year deals.

A note here: The Jets were very, very high on Washington receiver Rome Odunze. He likely would have been the pick had the Bears not selected him at No. 9.

Grade: A

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I disagree that Odunze would have been the pick if Chicago didn't take him. Saleh told Fashanu when they called him that he had been in their crosshairs all along. Rodgers also spoke about how much the Jets loved Fashanu. With the prospect of Warren or Mitchell having to protect Rodgers when (not if) Smith goes down, there was no way they were gonna take a WR. They don't have the cap space to sign a quality OT if there was one still available. They barely can sign their draft picks, and they certainly weren't going to get an OT worth a tinker's damn in the 3rd round. Thus, Fashanu was the right pick. It didn't matter who else was there, and I heard tonight that the Jets had no interest in Bowers.

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Quite possibly but JD basically said they had 9 non QB guys they loved. And Saleh isn't going to say anything else on that call but his face during the press conference didn't align with what he was saying on the call. Either way I'm pretty happy about it, there's still plenty of tackle and wide receiver talent in this draft that the Jets can tap into .

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Saleh didn't have to say anything like that to Fashanu, JD didn't say that. I don't doubt that there were other players that they loved, but imo if they seriously considered taking anyone other than an OT in the first round, then they haven't learned a damn thing, and still should be fired. I don't believe there is a 3rd round OT that could help them at all, either this year or as a quality starter next year.

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Why, exactly, are you so sure that there aren't tackles in the middle rounds who could eventually start?

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There may be one or two who could become below average starters, but I have zero interest in a below average starter for the Jets. We've seen enough of those. Look at their scouting reports. It isn't a matter that they all played at small schools, or don't have experience. They lack talent and the athleticism necessary to become a topnotch starter or even an above average starter. For the life of me, I can't understand why you or any other Jets fan would want some stiff like that.

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Why do you think they'll be below average starters? Do you know how many average starters there are who came in the middle rounds? Most of them. I'm not entirely sure you know what you're talking about, pal.

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David, by the way, taking everything into consideration how has the trip been, family good enjoying themselves

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Saleh was pissed it wasn’t Latu, Murphy or Turner. I’m sure he hasn’t stop being in JD’s ear since the Jets drafted Fashanu

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If it's true that Saleh hated the Fashanu pick and has been in JD's ear, I hope that JD told him to, sit down, STFU, and that he's lucky he still has a job.

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Saleh is starting to develop resting bitch face. I imagine being the head coach of the Jets will do that to anybody.

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Ha ha I like that. We can now refer to Saleh, among us as RBF!

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Three years from now Olu will look like a no brainer

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I think in year two

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I don't think it will take that long.

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I think the absolute NEED to select Fashanu (or another tackle in the first round) is a smidge overstated. It sounds like there were a handful of players they really liked. I, honestly, could see one of the 3rd round tackles being able to put together better tape early on. Fashanu needs a bit of seasoning, but is one hell of a prospect. There are a few guys in the third round who probably have higher "play right now" floors but much lower ceilings. Either way, its cool that they brought in Fashanu. I like him. He was a team captain. He, apparently, is smart as hell. He only started playing football in high school after growing up a hooper. He should be fun to root for.

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I most heartily agree. I believed all along that the Jets were going to target the OL given that both Smith and Moses are injury risks. An article that I saw on the Jets X Factor earlier this week analyzed the average number of games both Smith and Moses missed each year over the last 4 years….and that number was 7. That being the case, we can expect our new LT to play, if averages don’t change, 7 games. He will get to learn and practice with the first team as well as play! No sitting on the bench like Macdonald.

From my point of view, it is a very intelligent choice that will sustain the OL this year and hopefully for many years in the future.

Yes, we have not added a playmaker but with a 3rd, two 4s and a 5, the Jets should be able to trade into the 2nd round if they so choose.

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Actually, the Jets have #72, #111, #129, #134, #157, #185, and #257 left in the draft. So that have one 3rd round pick, THREE 4th round picks (which is awesome), a 5th round pick (that they didn't have), and still have their 6th round pick, and the Mr. Irrelevant compensatory pick. They could easily trade several of those picks and acquire either a 2nd round pick or an earlier 3rd round pick. JD may be loathe to do it, but he could also include a pick from next year's draft to seal the deal. I hated Tanny's frequent 3- and 4- player drafts, but if JD was able to acquire an early enough 2nd round pick and took Corley, and then only had 1-2 picks left, I wouldn't complain. If he came out of this draft with Fashanu, Corley, Mahogany and another player, I'd consider it a HR, maybe a grand slam.

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I stand corrected, three 4th round picks, so much the better. Spending some of the mid to late round capital to get into the second or an earlier three is a good strategy. Needs at present, first and foremost a playmaker WR, and then IOL. I suspect safety and RB will show up. We will know more shortly.

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It stated that over the last 5 years that smith missed an average of 5 games and Mose 2. Regardless the point being that if statistics hold true, one can anticipate that Olu should get playing time, likely at left tackle. Thus my conclusion that Olu will not spend the whole year on the Pine. Alternatively if Smith is fully healthy and misses only a game or two, then we will have, for two consecutive years a first round pick who will have provided minimal contributions to the team!

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I didn't see that article on Jets X Factor, but if it included Moses with Smith, then it is wrong. Moses has only missed 4 games in his career, 3 last season with the torn pec, and one when he played with the Jets previously; otherwise, he has started every game in his NFL career.

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I do like the pick as I think he is a great addition . However just a couple of things. If they really wanted Odunze as was rumored, they cud have moved to 8th as Atlanta who wanted Penix wud probably have moved as Chicago wasn't going to take a QB. And it probably only wud have required a 4th round pick. Second, with Denver and the Raiders also needing QB's, is it possible they cud have extracted more from either the Vikings, Raiders or Broncos. As has been stated previously, the point analyses are somewhat thrown out when u r dealing with a QB and as it was well known, the Vikings really wanted McCarthy. So in my opinion, they didn't receive enough. Now let's see if they can get a quality receiver with what they have now or if they will try to make a move up to get somebody they really like at that position.

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I think the Jets had targeted Fashanu all along. That's what Saleh told Fashanu when they called him. I don't think the Jets would have taken Odunze if he was there, and they certainly weren't going to trade up for him, and I doubt whether Atlanta would have risked trading down. They had targeted Penix. It would have cost the Jets a lot more than a 4th. Based on what I heard tonight, the Broncos wanted Nix, so they had no interest in trading up. I think the Raiders wanted Penix as well, and weren't interested in McCarthy. I think Joe got the best he could. He also didn't want to risk trading down further and then possibly missing out on Fashanu.

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Craig, Eh, I think the Bronco’s were resigned to taking Nix more than preferring him. These GM’s are familiar with who likes who so I don’t think Atlanta picking Penix surprised them. I like the fact we went OT over TE. The idea of Smith,Moses or even AVT making it through a 17 ( and hopefully more) 17 game schedule was a fantasy to me. This kid teamed with Tipp at center can hopefully be our 2nd rendition of Brick and Nick.

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I was shocked at how high Penix went , and the team that picked him, Atlanta. Wonder how bad Cousins injury is ?. Curious to know if Minnesota was JD’s only customer ? Picking Olu , gives the Jets Flexability for the rest of this draft. You’re absolutely correct, this Offensive line is not playing a full 17 games together, and Olu along with Smith solves the Left tackle vulnerability.. There could be a group of Jet Fans, that will be lighting torches, but I think there is a distinct possibility, that the Jets draft a quality Offensive Guard at 72.

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I would be stunned if they take an OG at #72. I wouldn't hate it, because I think it is definitely a need, but I think WR is a bigger need. I think they can still get a good IOL in the 4th round, but they may love Mahogany or some other IOL who they think will go in the 3rd round. Still, I hope that they will trade up into the 2nd round and take a WR. Then if they want to take an IOL in the 3rd round, I'd be totally happy with that.

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The two final needs, IOL and a wide receiver, maybe 2 wide receivers. We shall see how this plays out today. At some point RB and safety

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I agree! This drafted is loaded at two specific positions and both are positions of need for us. So yes, WR should be strongly considered unless something really crazy happens and another o-lineman we don’t expect to be there is available.

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I would also be stunned, but there are things we don’t know, specifically the true health of AVT. Then there is the perceived value of Haines, Mahogany & Beebe versus the WR’s. I’m in favor of double dipping early at WR. Looking to swap a fourth for an Offensive veteran.

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Yes, there are things we don't know, and I definitely think there is an issue with AVT. I think maybe that's why the question about picking up AVT's 5th year option seemingly caught JD totally by surprise and he was hemming and hawing. I'd love to add any of those 3 OGs to the OL, I'd feel a whole lot better about our OL then. It's just that we also don't know about the true health of M. Williams and whether he will stay healthy, and we know that aside from G. Wilson and Williams that the Jets don't have a WR that they can rely upon or that will help take some of the pressure off of G. Wilson, unless one of Brownlee, Gipson, or Taylor suddenly take a big step up, or Rodgers is able to raise Lazard's career (similar name to Lazarus) from the dead. They could count on Rodgers to make whomever they add at WR better, or maybe they already have a handshake deal in place with one of the veteran WRs who are still out there.

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Picking a guard at 72 remains a possibility and I agree that a portion of the fanbase will go crazy….Adding depth at receiver, RB, safety and LB would seem logical. If they take a guard with 72, not sure what receivers would be available in the 4th round. The receiver group is pretty deep but I had thought the Jets would trade up into the second round to select a higher ranked prospect!

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either a Guard or WR. Big fan of the Jaylens from Washington. Also Brenden Rice ( Jerry’s kid!)

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Double dipping early at WR , Javon Baker UCF, & slot WR Malik Washington Virginia, great explosive YAC guy.

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The Jaylens?????

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Tough getting up into the second, but I can see the Jets packaging a couple of fourths to obtain an additional third round pick. I can also see the Jets double dipping at WR.(slot & outside ) Would like to see one of those fourth round picks be traded for a veteran Offensive player.

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Ron, you may be right about the Broncos being resigned to taking Nix. I could totally be wrong about that, and about not thinking that Atlanta would have taken Nix.

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Atlanta watched the Sugar Bowl

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I think you are right on the Raiders wanting Penix too and it’s who Atlanta was afraid of. Btw, Raiders just took Michael Myer last year at TE, so Bowers pick makes no sense.

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I kind of like the Bowers pick for the Raiders. Mayer is a very traditional tight end. Bowers is more of a playmaker/h-back/tight end hybrid. They'll be able to do some interesting personnel shenanigans and get the defense into unfavorable personnel groupings. I'm intrigued to see how they tailor that offense to having two very different tight ends.

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Interesting. I didn't know that. Thanks.

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I don’t think Atlanta was willing to trade back because if they did and the Jets take Odunze at 8, that gives Chicago no reason to stay at 9, which results in them trading down with one of the qb needy teams and they risk not getting their guy.

As for the trade down value, according to the chart they did receive a little extra value based on the picks. But the issue was also Minny didn’t have a 3rd to trade so the 4&5 were their best offer unless giving up a future pick which is then devalued.

I really like what the Jets did and think it was the best realistic possible outcome.

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Excellent point

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I get ur point however if they made the trade with Atlanta and Chicago traded out of 9, McCarthy and Penix were still available and so the team that got 9 cud only take one of them. And as the Vikings were supposedly hot for McCarthy they still cud have gotten Penix at 10 and gotten an xtra pick. Just my opinion.

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I wonder how that is going to play out in Atlanta! U got Cousins inked at 45 Million for 4 years! Sitting a QB selection for a year or two to gain some maturity is fine but 4? If after 2 years are u sending a 45 million per year contract to sit on the pine? Certainly would be a hard contract to trade. BTW I do like Penix and think he could have a good career

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Does Cousins' contract have voidable years or a way that the Falcons could release him after two years and not get killed on the cap?

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The way I read the contract, the Falcons can escape after two years, 2026, but will absorb a 25 million dead Cap hit.

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Penix will be the best QB coming out of this draft so you have to give Atlanta major credit for seeing that and acting on it.

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Conviction. Cousins & 180 million and the Eight overall pick, I don’t know. I do think there is evidence of Penix over McCarthy & Nix

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Yes, it would take total conviction in Penix for Atlanta to draft him when they have Cousins signed to such a huge contract. IMO there's no way that was a wishy-washy move or let's take A QB, it was all about Penix.

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It makes you wonder what came first...did they always like Penix and know they were going to take him when they signed Cousins to all of that cash? On the other hand, did they already sign Cousins to such a large deal, and then suddenly find out that they loved every single thing about Michael Penix? Very interesting pick, indeed.

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But it wasn't just getting a QB. Atlanta had targeted Penix and Minnesota had targeted McCarthy. I think it's doubtful that they would have take the other QB if the one they had targeted was gone.

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agreed! I thought the return was not enough. And we certainly should have not had to give them a 6th back.

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I disagree, Ron. I think we were lucky to get what we did. As you yourself said, if teams know who the other teams want, then Minnesota knew that they were likely the only strong suitor for McCarthy. Maybe they were a little unsure about the Raiders, or the Broncos, and maybe JD wanted more, but that was all that Minnesota was willing to give.

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Any broken remote controls or TVs????? LOL

David, I saw the video of JD and Saleh when they called Fashanu and Saleh told him that the Jets had him in their crosshairs the whole time, so it sounds like he was the player they were going to take regardless of who else was there. Now if Tennessee had taken Fashanu instead of Latham, It's possible that that could have caused Odunze to drop, but I doubt it. I think the Jets would have taken Fashanu regardless. Protecting Rodgers should be their #1 priority, and they were never going to get an OT in the 3rd round that would be able to start and play at a fairly high level this season or one who they could count on to be their LT for the next 10-15 years. That's why OT had to be the pick in the 1st round. They can trade up into the 2nd round and still get a very good WR or stay put at #72 and get a good to decent prospect at WR. I'm hoping they trade up using one or two of their 4th round picks and a 2025 pick.

With regards to Fashanu playing OG, it's not likely that AVT will be ready to play day one of the season, so it would make sense to start Fashanu out at RG and let him get his feet wet and get used to the speed of the NFL, then when he has to fill in for Smith or Moses, he won't be coming in cold.

I was truly ecstatic with this pick. It restored some confidence in JD in me.

I learned tonight that Fautanu had an ACL injury and surgery several years ago, and evidently something either was missed or has been damaged since, as they said that he probably would eventually need surgery on that knee again. He also has a listfranc injury in one of his feet, so I'm glad that Jets took Fashanu.

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I think you hit the nail on the head….it is likely that AVT will miss the first month of the season so some time at guard will give playing time. Overall we needed to fortify the OLine! Smith and Moses are guaranteed to miss some time and replacing them with the turnstile twins is the quickest way to ruin the upcoming season. There will be no playoffs with Rogers running for his life or on the bench.

The other thing that this pick highlights is that all the football savants and mock drafters are full of the proverbial manure.

So, let us all hoist a beer to JD as I truly like this pick and to David who is suffering in dreary Micronesia!

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Alright!!! Malachi Corley! This draft is officially a HR regardless of whom else they take. They addressed their two biggest needs in a significant way. Kudos to JD. I would have traded up earlier into the 2nd round to take Corley. I thought for certain he would be gone by pick 55. JD must have had information on whom was interested in Corley, and he stayed patient and waited to trade up and it only cost the 5th round pick we got from Minnesota. That pick could have been useful normally, but this year, I absolutely think trading up and taking Corley was the right thing to do.

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I really, really want the Jets to trade up and take Malachi Corley. If it's true that they were going to take Jahmyr Gibbs last season because he was such a playmaker and YAC receiver, then they should be equally interested in Corley. He would give them, a great playmaker and put a lot of pressure on opposing Ds up the middle. None of the WRs likely to go in the 3rd or 4th round really excited me. The only other WR I would really want the Jets to take if they can't get Corley is Roman Wilson, and imo there's a big drop off between the two. I'd be happy adding Brenden Rice or Jermaine Burton, but not excited. With a draft that acquired Fashanu and Corley, I'd be over the moon. The only draft the Jets could have had that would have been any better would have been Alt and Leggette. I think Leggette has a chance to be a real weapon in the NFL, and one of the top 10 WRs in the NFL.

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Regarding Malachi….from your mouth to JDs ears!!!!!!

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LOL I'm not so sure that's a good thing, but in the case of Corley and Fashanu, I hope so. If we couldn't get Alt and Leggette, Fashanu and Corley are whom I wanted the Jets to draft. Hopefully they turn out better than Zach did! LOL He's the last player that I wanted the Jets to draft that they drafted.

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I too would have preferred Alt but he was never going to drop to 10/11. Time will tell but I think in hindsight we will be pleased with Fashanu. Creating depth for the O-line for the forthcoming season is essential given our older tackles. I don’t next year to be a repeat of the 2023 season. Let not the past return to the present!

As to Corley, he could be a great addition. However to get the most out of a player like Corley, you need some creativity from the Offensive (yes it is odorous) Coaching staff! What is the justly maligned OC Kant-Hackett gonna do!

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Good point, but thankfully, Hackett and Rodgers are used to using the slot WR a lot in this offense. Remember that Randall Cobb was huge in this offense with Rodgers, and Lazard also ran a pretty big number of his snaps from the slot. Thus, I don't think it's going to take much change, if any, to get Corley involved.

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Methinks that you give Kant-Hackett more credit than is due. I have no doubt, however, that Rodgers can excel in virtually any system.

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Watching the Post draft show so does Connor Hughes!

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I also forgot about Adonai Mitchell and Ja'Lynn Polk. I'd much rather have one of Corley, Wilson, Mitchell and Polk, than any of the guys who will go in the 3rd round. Ideally, I'd like to add two WRs, but after trading up, if they plan on taking a QB and IOL, I don't know if they'd have enough 4th round picks to do that.

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I am surprised JD didn’t jump the Bears by trading with Atlanta to get Odunze - I do think Penix is the best QB in draft and Cheatriots made a huge mistake not taking him. Atlanta would have easily been able to make the same pick at 10 so clearly it wasn’t offered. Once I got past my disappointment of losing Odunze, I processed what JD did and am very impressed with the trade and getting the guy, going into the season, was the number 1 rated OT. I watched Olu a lot as an OSU fan and never was blown away because he doesn’t move people. His technique is excellent though and never gives up sacks - and OSU came hard at him. Moves well in line but not especially great in space. He’s not playing anything but left tackle imo. As I think about him, he’s a lot like Brick.

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I've heard some mixed reviews of Maye. It sounds like he checks all of the physical boxes, but the mental side of the game is more of a question mark. That trade was great. Love me some extra mid-round picks!

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Danny Boy, Gee, 🤔 that sounds like the last QB we just had…..😂

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hey JetsWay Faithful! Love the pick, Fashanu reminds me of Brick. Man oh man, him & Tippmann, core foundation stones for the next 5-10 years! Happy days are here again!

oh guys, ya gotta see this vid on twitter - LMAOOOOOO, the title is: "Brock Bowers realizing he's catching passes from Gardner Minshew and not Aaron Rodgers"

https://twitter.com/i/status/1783671326646899178

CGVet

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Just got news remote sales plummet and TV stocks decline as Jets make a good decision in NFLDraft. NYFD reports no buildings a blaze and no pitchfork related injuries reported Thursday night.

Only time will tell how this works out but the appearance is the Jets made the pick they needed to make that looks to have a positive impact on this year and the future. Plus additional picks for moving back 1 spot.

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Having big name 2nd/3rd WRs to me is one of the more overrated assets to NFL teams in today's league. Yes you need depth, but with a great quarterback you can get by with a stud 1A, a stud RB, and solid guys around team. Having a legit no questions ask O Line with a great QB and a great running game is the Super Bowl recipe. So i'm glad Joe D went with Olu here. Rodgers will make due just fine with Garret, our decent TE room, and Breece who I think can easily cement himself as the 2nd best RB in the league this year behind CMC. And if Mike Will is healthy, with Gipson/Lazard and hopefully a 2nd/3rd round WR draft pick, paired with a legit top 10 O line, I promise this offense is going to explode. Rome would've been fun since he probably has a chance to be a garret-level WR, but this is the right move to me. If we can stay healthy, this is one of the best offenses we've had in probably decades. Let's see what we can do in the later rounds.

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I'll take a Tyron Smith and a potential stud rookie OT as left tackle insurance with a 40 year old QB over a WR3/potential WR2 if Mike Will is hurt every day of the week that ends in Y

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Not to mention that Tyron is likely gone after this year, and while we all know its a win-now year, we're all gonna be rooting for this team long after Rodgers leaves, so thank you Joe D for hopefully giving us a future LT for the apocalypse when Rodgers leaves.

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Great start to the Jet draft. Even if it was possible, the Jets did not spend capital to move up or take Bowers. The Jets added some back draft capital instead. So now we wait for 72 and start to think about who might be available. Maybe a good WR drops a little and is there at 72, or it is possible they trade back further in the 3rd if the player they are focused on is a mid or late 3rd round pick. The result could be another 4thish round pick. I think there are some interesting players and needs that can be helped in the 100 to 140 zone. For example, on my list, Rb (Estime, Shipley, Ali), WR (Rice, McMillon), TE (Nieman), OT (Jones and Walker), G/C (Lauther (not sure of spelling), Bortoliui, Limer), DT (Sweet), Safety (Taylor-Demerson, Bulloch, Smith), and half a dozen CB.

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Two years in a row take a backup ! They needed to take a weapon. Really really bad - if they didn’t trust the o linemen they brought in then why bring them in. On top of having a great RB this guy doesn’t run block - typical of this regime’s drafting

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This is a long term move, which you have to give huge credit to JD. I did not expect that. If you look at next year, the Jets would have been wiped out at OT if they didn’t do this. Both OT’s are old and on 1 year contracts. Now they have an incredible nucleus of Tippman, Simpson (2 year contract), AVT and Olu. Maybe Warren develops into the right tackle over time. JD has now put together the O line we all expected him to put together. Btw, I would have preferred they kept Becton at RT on a cheap deal.

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Repeat after me - 'we will never go back to the playoffs in our lifetimes". They brought in guys they dont trust, They tried to trade up for a WR andf then to top it off sdidnt even have Bowers on their board at 11. this is 4 out 5 drafts where douglas blew the number 1 pick. Thi sis a win now year - he thingk Rogers is playing till he is 50 ? titally utterly ridiculous

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Taking Fashanu wasn't just about drafting a backup. It was an opportunity to get a 10+ year topnotch starter at LT. Fashanu will play this year. You can book on that. T. Smith was the only really good LT available in FA. He has a bad injury history. It was either take him and get great play for however many game that he could play, or sign someone like Donovan Smith who is pretty bad at this stage of his career, or not sign an LT at all. Which would you have preferred? Because of all the issues they've had with injuries, there was no way on earth that the Jets could go into this season, much less totally go all in this season and forget about the future, and just take a weapon. That would have been malfeasance on JD's part and a fireable offense. They had to get at least one quality future starting OT out of this draft. The only way that was going to happen was taking one in the 1st round. If the Jets didn't understand that, and just lucked into winding up with Fashanu, then we are lucky that the Jets didn't screw up yet again.

Granted that top 15 draft picks normally start, but this is a unique situation where injuries and FA signing failures necessitated that the Jets draft an OT early. Even though the top teams don't generally draft in the top 15 picks of the draft, they often draft players in the 1st round who will be backups or only role players in their first season or two. They're developing a pipeline of talent to replace older or less effective veteran players.

It's not accurate to say that Fashanu doesn't run block. He does, he's just inconsistent and needs to refine his technique and work to get better at run blocking. He's only 21. He can get better, and I believe that he will. I'd rather have a LT that excelled at both pass protection and run blocking, and we can still have that potentially. The most important part of any OT's job, however, is protecting the QB. D'Brickashaw Ferguson was never a good run blocker, but he was a damn good LT for the Jets. Even if we got a Brick "lite" that will be plenty good enough and we don't have to worry about the 2nd most important position on the team for the next 10-15 years (barring major injury).

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They could have had this guy in the 3rd round and there are a ton of other O-linemen this draft. Again - he really screwed up bringing in FAs that he already knows will get injured. So its a double bad move. They could have had a starter day 1 and a huge weapon in a all in year. Nope they are going to rebuild in Rogers last year playing - makes no sense what so ever. This is on top of the guy they took being a project with no one on that staff to teach him - i am getting over it but at my age i nor you will ever see them in the payoffs again - they better be gone this time - cant just continue to waste number 1 picks - they gave the division away with that pick

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I totally disagree, Steve. No, they couldn't have gotten Fashanu in the 3rd round. I guarantee you that if the Jets hadn't taken Fashanu, New Orleans would have at #14, or perhaps some other team would have traded up and taken him even before New Orleans.

Signing T. Smith was not a bad move. I'm sorry that you cannot see that. He is still a top 5 LT in the NFL. The only issue is that he cannot stay healthy. That's not his fault. I'm shocked that you'd rather have signed someone like Charles Leno or Donovan Smith who undoubtedly would have had Rodgers running for his life on almost every passing down.

Further you are mistaken about the impact that WR would have had. To begin with, he wouldn't have been a starter, unless M. Williams isn't ready to start the season. Secondly, he would have been the 3rd option behind G. Wilson and Williams, and Breece and Conklin would have still had their opportunities, so the impact that WR would have had this year would have been negligible.

Quite literally, Fashanu could save the season once Smith goes down with injury. He will likely have a much greater impact on the team's fortune's this season than any WR would have had. I also don't think the Jets tried to trade up for a WR. I think that was a smokescreen that was put out there to throw teams off of what the Jets were going to do. Trading up would have been foolish imo. They have too many other needs, and they wouldn't have been able to draft a quality OT at all.

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You are a good guy Craig - and no sorry needed. Bowers was projected at 10 and much more then a TE. Can also bvlaock and play multiple positions. Fashanu was prjected to go at 12. I knwo slight difference. We are talking a immediate impact in a win year as opposed to "insurance policy" just in case someone one goes down. On yop of there is no one today who can caoch this pick who is not redy to play in the NFL. Bowers doens need that - he can step right in. If this guys is in the lineup then the jets are in big trouble as they lost a started and have a raw rookie in there. Im getting over it i just dint want to go to rebuild this year.

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An interesting article in the Jets X Factor looked at all first round rookie tight end production over the last decade. This includes some of our notable TEs currently active. Consistently rookie tight ends underperformed their subsequent production in later years and produced significantly less than 1st round wide receivers.

That being said, I would take the WR but the top 3 were gone! I actually think that they would have selected one of them if the fell to 10/11. But….who knows.

Getting back to Bowers, I think he will have an excellent career, just not sure our OC Kant-Hackett can change his offensive scheme, or lack thereof, to get meaningful production from him!

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all well said , interesting and I agree - when i saw Hackett talking to the WR on the phone The Jets took i cringed

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Thanks, Steve. I try to be a good guy, but sometimes my passion gets in the way.

The problem with Bowers is that I had zero confidence that Hackett would be willing or able to change his offense to utilize Bowers in the way that he needs to be utilized to make him the weapon he could be. He's a better blocker than advertised, but still wouldn't have helped when Smith goes down, and there wasn't a competent backup behind him. Now we can worry a lot less about Rodgers staying upright and healthy.

I agree with whomever else said (Mike?) that having Rodgers throwing to Conklin rather than Zach should have Conklin being even more of a weapon this year. A rookie LT isn't ideal, yet it's funny that most of the complaining I've seen about him is that he's a backup rather than a starter. Fans can't have it both ways (not that you're trying to). I think Fashanu will be better than Leno or Donovan Smith or any LT they could have signed or traded for even as a rookie, and he will only get better with more experience. He only started playing football in high school. I didn't realize that before the draft. I just read that today. It's funny that none of the scouting reports mentioned that, and yet look at how good he already is and has only played LT for 5-6 years at most and it may be only 3-4 years. This isn't a rebuild year. They're still aiming to get to the playoffs and win as many games as possible. I believe that Fashanu will help them win more games than Bowers would have this year.

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Hi CC….excellent post. Agree with your analysis. OF is for this year for the inevitable injuries and to start next year! And yes, Conklin will be much more productive with Rodgers at QB than he was with “he who must not be mentioned”

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We all let the passion in our way sometimes - these are fair points Craig. I heard a interview with him and he speaks very intelligently and wanted to be a Jet. You are totalli corerect in that Hackett wouldnt know what to do with Bowers. I am in fact worried about what they are going to do the rest of the draft - take another Mims ?

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Without a competent LT we go nowhere next season! Smith is fine when he can play but he has many years in the NFL and now is an injury concern. Over the last 5 years he has missed an average of 5 games per year. If the statistics apply to next year we can expect the same and god forbid if he misses more games.

The selection of Fashanu, a quality drafted with skills and a future is an ideal solution to the inevitable injuries that likely will occur next year. He can learn from Smith, practice with the 1s as Smith didn’t practice last year and fill in as needed.

This isn’t a wasted pick and he won’t ride the pine! As Moses and Smith aren’t under contract next year, we have our starter in 2026. Based on Rodgers statements he wants to play another 2-3 years. If hypothetically, (you didn’t draft Fashanu) he gets battered this season when Smith is injured and u had to play the turnstile twines…I would expect he would retire.

So Fashanu is good for this season as he will play and likely better for the following one!

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thats what everyone is saying - but i just want a bona fide starter the day camp opens

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I don’t think he will keep the pine warm like Macdonald. I believe he will play multiple games due to Smith’s inability at his current age and state to play a full season! Maybe he may be used at RT a bit for the same reason. Overall I think it was a good selection.

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They are in a full rebuiding mode with this pick and with a HOF QB - ridculous. On top of not trusting the guys he brought in as FA - so two two screws ups on the same position.

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