Jets shouldn't be concerned about Olu Fashanu's slow start yet, but something needs to change

Week 3 saw the New York Jets' offense continue its high-flying play and even find another gear. Led by the stellar Geno Smith, the Jets may have lost a shootout, but the offense looked formidable in the process.

However, beyond first glance, it's actually amazing that Smith was as impressive as he was. New York's signal caller was under consistent pressure. The offensive line as a whole was a letdown in pass protection, but even with a bunch of subpar performances, left tackle Olu Fashanu stood out like a sore thumb.

Fashanu was charged with five pressures and gave up 2.5 sacks on the day. The Detroit Lions have a fearsome pass rush, for sure, but Fashanu put together far too many uncompetitive reps and didn't even have to deal with Aidan Hutchinson much, as the terrifying edge rusher spent most of his day working on the other side against Armand Membou.

If it were just one game against a tough opponent, it would be one thing. However, Fashanu has struggled out of the gate. The Penn State product has now allowed four sacks over 127 pass-blocking reps, which is concerning after allowing just four sacks all of last season.

Pressure-wise, Fashanu allowed just a total of 39 in 2025. He's already given up 10 so far this season. It's not what you want to see, but there is a potential silver lining.

Fashanu was a slow starter last season as well. Over the first five weeks of the 2025 season, he allowed 18 pressures and was less than stellar overall in pass protection. From Week 5 onward, he righted the ship and showed off some real potential. The same thing could happen now, but that brings up another can of worms.

Olu Fashanu is going to need to prove he can be consistent to secure his New York Jets' future

2026 is a crucial year for Fashanu and his future. This is his third season in the league, meaning the Jets will need to make a decision on his fifth-year option this offseason. For a tackle, that means a huge chunk of change is on the line.

For players in his position, and at his position, this is oftentimes when extensions get discussed. Left tackle is a premium position. Even average players who protect the blind side get paid handsomely.

But in a game of limited resources, can the Jets really afford to commit big dollars to a player who has shown flashes but hasn't achieved greatness? There are already big contracts on the books, and there are other youngsters who will need to be paid. New York can't pay everyone, so Fashanu is going to have to stand out.

It has appeared as if Fashanu was set for a breakout 2026 campaign. That can certainly still happen despite a relatively tepid start. However, taking a while to hit the ground running can't become a trend. The Jets ultimately want to contend, and you can't do that by dropping games in September.

Left tackle might be the second-most important position after quarterback. New York needs to know that they have a stalwart there; otherwise, it's back to the drawing board. For Fashanu, that means that 2026 could make or break his Jets future, and that makes a quick rebound paramount.

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