Aaron Rodgers appeared to give his lukewarm approval to New York Jets first-round pick Olu Fashanu while admitting the team didn’t necessarily need another offensive tackle.
Among the biggest moves the Jets made were signing eight-time Pro Bowl selection Tyron Smith, acquiring offensive tackle Morgan Moses from Baltimore and signing former Ravens guard John Simpson. Despite these signings, Fashanu was selected by New York at 11th overall after the Jets fell one spot on Thursday night.
‘We have already made three moves in the offseason [to address the offensive line] taking John along [Simpson] to play security guard, Morgan [Moses] to play tackle and Tyron [Smith] to play tackle as well, so it wasn’t necessarily at the top of the needs,” Rodgers said. “But I know they really loved Olu.”
The pick came after the Jets dealt the No. 10 overall selection to the Minnesota Vikings – who acquired Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy. New York also sent a sixth-rounder (No. 203) to Minnesota, which traded No. 11 overall, along with a fourth-rounder (No. 129) and a fifth-rounder (No. 157) to the Jets.
‘I like some [general manager Joe Douglas] He did, I went back and got a few more picks,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers gave his reaction to the Jets pick during Pat McAfee’s draft simulcast (photo)
Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine
There was some buzz leading up to the draft that New York might go with Georgia tight end Brock Bowers or try to acquire one of the top wide receivers. But the selection of the 6-foot-1, 312-pound Fashanu gives the Jets depth on their revamped offensive line, extra protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a potential future starter.
“I don’t think he’s given up a sack in his entire college career,” Rodgers said. “That says a lot because you’re going against the big schools in the Big Ten, like Wisconsin, and occasionally Iowa.”
Rodgers didn’t seem upset that the Jets had failed to draft a receiver.
“I like our skill group,” he said. “I knew we really liked all three receivers [Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze]so I watched film on those guys, I watched film on the lineman.
‘Olu is a mauler. He had an incredible career at Penn State. He certainly doesn’t have to immediately jump in for the tackle. We’ll see if we can include him in the guard. I think he’s going to have a long career in the league.”
Fashanu said New York “definitely showed interest in him” during his visit to the team prior to the draft, but he wasn’t sure if the Jets would take him.
“To be honest, I think they hid it well because it didn’t seem like any more than any other team that showed interest,” Fashanu said during a video call with reporters. “I didn’t want to say it during the whole process, but after a (top) 30 visit after the combine, the Jets were the obvious place for me.”
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (74) blocks during a game against the Michigan Wolverines
After injuries and inconsistencies caused New York to continually shuffle its starting five up front, Douglas focused on upgrading the unit in free agency during the offseason.
The Jets’ new signees are all expected to start, along with center Joe Tippmann and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. But Smith is 33 and has played just 30 games over the past four seasons due to injuries. Moses is also 33 and was sidelined for three games last season due to a torn pectoral muscle that required surgery.
And both tackles are only signed to one-year contracts. So Fashanu gives the Jets an option in case of injury this season – and a player who could potentially take over next season.
Rodgers missed the 2023 season after failing in the first offensive series
“I feel like I’m kind of living in a fairytale or something,” Fashanu said of playing with Smith. “He’s the first player I ever saw watching film as a tackle. I didn’t start playing football until I was a freshman in high school and at the time he was the absolute standard in left tackle.
“So if I have the opportunity to watch his films for years and now have this great opportunity to learn with him and learn any tips and advice that he has for me, what more can I ask for?”
Fashanu was an Associated Press first-team All-America selection and the Big Ten offensive lineman last season. He was a two-year starter at left tackle for the Nittany Lions and allowed just one sack in his entire college career.
Fashanu said he took a lot of practice snaps at right tackle in college, but Douglas said the Jets project him as a left tackle in the pros. And that means Fashanu will likely be behind Smith for at least a year.
“I think he had the most success with that in high school and college,” Douglas said. “Obviously he’s been a dominant left tackle at Penn State the last two years. We have a great room of vets who can take him under their wing and great coaches who can develop him.”