Jets lineman is dominating training camp and setting up breakout season

Second-year offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is starting to look like the breakout star the New York Jets were hoping for. The 2024 first-round pick has reportedly been one of the standouts of training camp so far, drawing rave reviews from those in attendance.

Will Parkinson of the Turn on the Jets podcast reported that Fashanu was "probably the best player on the field" during Thursday's practice. Parkinson added that he didn't see Fashanu lose a single rep throughout the day.

He's not the only one signing Fashanu's praises. NBC Sports' Connor Rogers shouted out the Penn State product for an excellent practice, insisting that Fashanu looked "smooth and confident in pass pro" and that he was "starting to move people in the run game."

Still just 22 years old, Fashanu was always expected to take a big leap in Year 2. But with the way he’s dominating so far this summer, that leap might come sooner than even the Jets anticipated.

Olu Fashanu showing signs of a breakout season at Jets camp

The Jets selected Fashanu with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, betting on his sky-high upside as a smooth, technically sound pass protector. However, his rookie season was a bit of a roller coaster.

Fashanu began the year on the bench before being thrust into action at right tackle — a position he had never played — following an injury to Morgan Moses. The early results were rocky, but a season-ending injury to Tyron Smith later allowed Fashanu to slide into his natural position at left tackle, where he started five games down the stretch.

It was during that stretch that Fashanu flashed the traits that made him such a highly-touted prospect. From Weeks 10–16, Fashanu posted a 70.2 Pro Football Focus grade (ranking 33rd among 67 qualifying tackles), allowing just one sack and finishing top-30 in pass-blocking grade.

Now, with a full offseason at left tackle and a starting job locked in, Fashanu appears poised to make a second-year jump, similar to how center Joe Tippmann did last season.

Tippmann didn't start until midseason in 2023 but emerged in 2024 as one of the NFL’s top young centers. The Jets are hopeful Fashanu can follow a similar trajectory.

He should have some help, too. Fashanu is part of a revamped Jets offensive line that includes rookie Armand Membou at right tackle, veteran John Simpson at left guard, Tippmann at center, and a healthy Alijah Vera-Tucker at right guard.

If Fashanu takes the next step, there’s every reason to believe this could be one of the better offensive lines in the NFL this season. This unit should be viewed as the strength of the Jets' roster.

It's still early, but Fashanu has wasted little time stealing the show this summer. And if that continues, a breakout season may be just around the corner.

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