Olu

Fashanu

Smith’s neck isn’t improving at the rate the Jets had hoped. It would not at all be surprising if the Jets placed the veteran on IR considering their lack of anything to play for this year, they might as well see what Olu Fashanu can be at left tackle. So far, so good on that front, as the rookie has played better at his natural position against the Cardinals and Colts in New York’s last two games.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Fashanu’s four-year deal is worth just north of $20.5 million in guaranteed money. The No. 11 pick could play behind veterans Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses early in his career, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the rookie tackle get work on both sides of the ball at some point in the season. Fashanu earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 88.4 in his final season at Penn State and didn’t allow a sack on 733 pass-block attempts.

The Jets moved back one pick in a trade with Minnesota before landing Fashanu. A Washington D.C. native, Fashanu (6’6/312) was rated as a high three-star recruit from the 2020 prep class and took a redshirt his freshman season before earning a modest 85 snaps in his second year. He earned the starting LT spot in 2022 and immediately thrived as a blind side protector, allowing just one hit with zero sacks before going down for the year after eight games. Despite the early exit, Fashanu’s easy athleticism and foot speed made him very tough to beat on the loop despite facing off against a slew of very talented Big Ten Edge rushers. Though he flashed enough in his redshirt sophomore season to draw first-round buzz, 2023 was the year that solidified Fashanu’s place among the elite OT prospects. He earned the fourth-highest PFF pass blocking grade in FBS with a minuscule 1.9% pressure rate last year while allowing zero sacks in his entire collegiate career. While the PSU sentry’s pass pro acumen was B10 caliber right out of the box, his run blocking prowess took a little more time to develop. His 59th percentile run block grade in 2022 was a disappointing mark, and all five penalties he committed during his Penn State tenure were on run plays. What stands out is the leap he made in that department this year, pacing the Nittany Lions’ OL with a pristine .3% blown run block rate on 338 run snaps. His lightning-quick burst off the snap allows him to cut off edge defenders on outside runs and race to beat defenders to his spot on the move. While Fashanu’s 9.44 RAS checks most of the testing boxes we were hoping to confirm, his diminutive 8.5” hand size jumps off the screen when compared to his fellow hulking contemporaries. Despite that potential flaw, Fashanu projects as a solid NFL tackle. He will also get the benefit of learning from Morgan Moses and Tyron Smith, two veterans guards with great resumes, as a rookie.