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NY Jets fans already regret their team passing on Brock Bowers for Olu Fashanu

Did the Jets make a mistake?
Justin Fried
Justin Fried

The Jet Press

Brock Bowers / Michael Owens/GettyImages

The NY Jets were heavily connected to Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in the weeks leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft. Multiple reports suggested Bowers was atop the Jets' draft board, and when the organization appeared on the clock with the 11th overall pick, the California native was still available.

The Jets would ultimately choose to pass on Bowers in favor of Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu, a player the team did not plan to start immediately. Fashanu was drafted to provide much-needed insurance behind the injury-riddled Tyron Smith at left tackle.

Sure, the Jets hoped that Fashanu would eventually become their long-term left tackle of the future, but for a win-now team with Super Bowl aspirations, the pick seemed questionable to some at the time.

Those concerns have become even more valid after Bowers' scorching hot start to the 2024 season. Not only has Bowers lived up to his pre-draft billing, but the former Georgia star has already established himself as arguably the best tight end in the NFL.

He's putting together a historic rookie season, and many Jets fans are already regretting their team's decision to draft Fashanu instead.

Some NY Jets fans are wishing their team drafted Brock Bowers

Through 12 games, Bowers officially leads the NFL in receptions with 84 and ranks third among all players with 884 yards. Not only has he been the NFL's most productive tight end as a rookie, but he's one of the most productive overall receivers in the league.

Bowers continued his monster rookie year with a dominant performance against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. The 21-year-old hauled in 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown, nearly leading his team to a massive upset over their division rivals.

It should be noted that Bowers is putting up these numbers in one of the worst offenses in football. He's been catching passes from Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell, and even a little Desmond Ridder this season.

The Jets' offense and quarterback play haven't been good this year, but it's still a better situation than what he's dealing with in Las Vegas. There's no denying that Bowers would've been a massive help to the Jets' offense.

That said, it’s far too early to make any definitive claims about which pick was the right one. Fashanu has stepped in at left tackle with Tyron Smith out and flashed his Pro Bowl upside. The Jets still believe he can be a long-term solution at one of the most important positions in football.

Drafting Bowers wouldn't have saved the Jets' season, but it's hard to argue that he wouldn't have been a major boost to an offense that could use another playmaker. The Jets are certainly hoping that Fashanu reaches his ceiling so they don't regret this pick for years to come.

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Justin Fried

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.