Olu Fashanu is quickly making NY Jets fans forget about Brock Bowers

The NY Jets have spent nearly a decade searching for a long-term solution at left tackle, and while it’s always risky to draw conclusions from a limited sample size, Olu Fashanu appears to be on track to finally fill that void for the organization.

The Fashanu pick wasn't straightforward at the time and has been the subject of intense debate in the months following the 2024 NFL Draft. The Jets' decision to select Fashanu over the heavily rumored Brock Bowers certainly raised a few eyebrows in April.

Bowers' historic rookie season didn't help change the notion that the Jets may have made the wrong pick. But since taking over as the Jets' starting left tackle in Week 10, Fashanu has done everything in his power to dispel that narrative.

Fashanu put together another impressive performance in the Jets' Week 15 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the latest in an increasingly long line of standout games from the former Penn State star.

Olu Fashanu's hot start is justifying NY Jets' controversial draft-day decision

Fashanu's 80.5 Pro Football Focus pass-block grade was the highest by any Jets offensive lineman in Week 15. He allowed just one pressure on 58 total snaps, continuing his impressive streak of excellent performances.

Since taking over as the Jets' starting left tackle following an injury to Tyron Smith in Week 10, Fashanu's 77.1 PFF pass-block grade ranks top-15 among all offensive tackles in the NFL.

He's allowed just one sack and two QB hits since Week 10 and has multiple games of one or fewer pressures allowed. Fashanu has wasted little time not only proving to be an upgrade over the injured Smith but also firmly establishing himself as a building block of the future.

This isn't to say that Bowers hasn't done the same with the Las Vegas Raiders. The former Georgia standout is on pace for the best rookie season by a tight end in NFL history. He's among the league leaders in catches and receiving yards, exceeding even the loftiest rookie-year expectations.

Bowers has been fantastic, but that doesn't necessarily mean he would've been the right pick for the Jets. As always, position value matters in the NFL. A great left tackle is more valuable than even the best tight end in the league. That has and will always be true.

If Fashanu is a plus-starter for the Jets, there won't be a single person in that building who regrets the decision to draft him. While it's still early in his career, Fashanu is already showing signs of becoming the steady, reliable presence the team has long needed at left tackle.

The Jets are thrilled with what they've seen from their rookie left tackle to this point. Jets fans should feel the same way.

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