The Jets opt for a strategic move, sliding down one spot to the 11th position and snagging Olu Fashanu, the promising offensive tackle from Penn State, as their premier pick of the draft.

 

In the midst of swirling trade discussions during the NFL Draft, the Jets initiated the evening's first trade, swapping positions with the Minnesota Vikings at No. 10 while the clock was ticking for the Green & White's 11th pick.

At the 11th overall selection, the Jets secured Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu, primed to vie for a starting role and bolster the offensive line's depth and caliber, fortifying protection for QB Aaron Rodgers and executing head coach Robert Saleh's offensive strategies as the 2024 season looms.

"We're genuinely thrilled to welcome Olu to the Jets," expressed General Manager Joe Douglas to reporters promptly following the trade and the 11th selection.

Fashanu, a stalwart at left tackle for the Nittany Lions over four years, rebounded from an injury-marred 2022 season to excel in 2023 with 12 starts, culminating in AP first-team All-American honors and the title of Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. His academic prowess earned him recognition as a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

As he embarked on his NFL team visits, Fashanu sensed a symbiotic connection with the Jets.

"They definitely expressed interest," shared Fashanu with the team's media on Thursday night. "Though they masked it well, it felt different from other teams. Following the visit and the Combine, the Jets felt like the natural fit for me."

Douglas underscored the exceptional talent pool among tackles in this year's draft class, emphasizing Fashanu's prowess in pass protection and his often-overlooked proficiency in run-blocking.

"Olu is an exceptional player," remarked Douglas. "His stellar pass protection statistics, coupled with his imposing presence and competitive spirit, make him a formidable force on the field. We're eager to witness his impact with the Jets."

"You know me by now. O-line, D-line, the more the merrier," Saleh emphasized. "You can never have enough." He highlighted the recent acquisitions of veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, noting their wealth of experience not just in technique, but also in professionalism at the pro level. "The young man's only 21 years old. He hasn't even scratched the surface yet." Fashanu anticipates the advantages of donning the green and white as soon as next week's rookie minicamp, citing three key reasons—three players he idolized when he first started playing football at his Washington, DC, high school: QB Aaron Rodgers and fellow tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. "Aaron Rodgers, just growing up watching him and all the great things he's done throughout his career, to have that opportunity to be on the same team and just ask him any bits and tips and advice as to what made his career so successful, that's just the best opportunity," he expressed. Reflecting on Smith, Fashanu shared, "I feel like I'm living a fairytale. He was the first player I ever watched when I started watching film as a tackle. At the time, he was the absolute standard at left tackle." Similarly, for Moses: "He's a guy I've watched a lot of film on from the past. To have the opportunity to learn under two veteran tackles, I'm just truly blessed." In addition to the 10th overall pick, the Jets also traded their sixth-round selection, 203rd pick, to the Vikings. In return, they received the Vikings' 11th pick along with their fourth-round choice (129th) and their fifth-rounder (157th). "The added ammo is great. It gives us more flexibility," Douglas explained. "We'll assess how the rest of this round goes, we'll put our board together for tomorrow night, and there are going to be five or six scenarios as far as moving up, moving back. Having those extra picks gives us a lot of flexibility to do different things." Throughout the years, the Jets have frequently tapped into the talent pool of Penn State, with Fashanu marking the 28th Nittany Lion drafted by the Green & White. Notable Penn State Jets draftees have predominantly excelled on the defensive side of the ball, with luminaries such as LB Ralph Baker (43rd, 1964), DE John Ebersole (98th, 1970), LB Greg Buttle (67th, 1976), LB Lance Mehl (69th, 1980), S Harry Hamilton (176th, 1984), and DT Lou Benfatti (94th, 1994).

"You know me by now. O-line, D-line, the more the merrier," Saleh emphasized. "You can never have enough." He highlighted the recent acquisitions of veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, noting their wealth of experience not just in technique, but also in professionalism at the pro level. "The young man's only 21 years old. He hasn't even scratched the surface yet." Fashanu anticipates the advantages of donning the green and white as soon as next week's rookie minicamp, citing three key reasons—three players he idolized when he first started playing football at his Washington, DC, high school: QB Aaron Rodgers and fellow tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. "Aaron Rodgers, just growing up watching him and all the great things he's done throughout his career, to have that opportunity to be on the same team and just ask him any bits and tips and advice as to what made his career so successful, that's just the best opportunity," he expressed. Reflecting on Smith, Fashanu shared, "I feel like I'm living a fairytale. He was the first player I ever watched when I started watching film as a tackle. At the time, he was the absolute standard at left tackle." Similarly, for Moses: "He's a guy I've watched a lot of film on from the past. To have the opportunity to learn under two veteran tackles, I'm just truly blessed." In addition to the 10th overall pick, the Jets also traded their sixth-round selection, 203rd pick, to the Vikings. In return, they received the Vikings' 11th pick along with their fourth-round choice (129th) and their fifth-rounder (157th). "The added ammo is great. It gives us more flexibility," Douglas explained. "We'll assess how the rest of this round goes, we'll put our board together for tomorrow night, and there are going to be five or six scenarios as far as moving up, moving back. Having those extra picks gives us a lot of flexibility to do different things."

Throughout the years, the Jets have frequently tapped into the talent pool of Penn State, with Fashanu marking the 28th Nittany Lion drafted by the Green & White. Notable Penn State Jets draftees have predominantly excelled on the defensive side of the ball, with luminaries such as LB Ralph Baker (43rd, 1964), DE John Ebersole (98th, 1970), LB Greg Buttle (67th, 1976), LB Lance Mehl (69th, 1980), S Harry Hamilton (176th, 1984), and DT Lou Benfatti (94th, 1994).