Olu Fashanu's strong performance gives NY Jets hope for brighter future

The NY Jets drafted Olu Fashanu to be their left tackle of the future. The 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft was supposed to not only serve as a long-term solution at the left tackle position, but he would also give the Jets a much-needed insurance policy in the short term.

The Jets were fully aware of Tyron Smith's injury history when they signed him to a team-friendly one-year, $6.5 million contract this past offseason. They knew that Fashanu would likely be forced into action at some point in his rookie season.

But while Smith remained healthy, Fashanu was forced to play new positions, starting games at right tackle before being thrust into action at right guard following a slew of injuries. On Sunday, Fashanu finally received his first opportunity to play left tackle at the NFL level.

Smith suffered a neck injury during the Jets' Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and exited the game at halftime. Fashanu played the entire second half and looked every part of the future star left tackle the Jets hope he one day will be.

Olu Fashanu impressed at LT for the NY Jets in Week 10

Fashanu played 33 snaps in the second half, finishing with an excellent 75.7 Pro Football Focus grade, the second-highest among all Jets players in Week 10. That includes an 83.7 PFF run-block grade which was second-best behind only left guard John Simpson.

The Penn State product struggled when asked to fill in for Morgan Moses at right tackle earlier in the year, posting PFF grades of 39.4 and 57.6 in his only two starts. He allowed a combined nine pressures in those two games, but only surrendered two pressures on 28 pass-block snaps this past Sunday.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Fashanu looked best at his natural position. The 21-year-old played 100 percent of his college snaps at left tackle and almost exclusively played left tackle in high school as well.

The Jets also asked Fashanu to practice this week at both tackle and guard in case Alijah Vera-Tucker, who has been nursing an ankle injury, was unable to play.

Fashanu has been jumping from position to position for the first time in his football career, so some of his early-season struggles can be excused. That's especially true given how well he performed in his first game at left tackle.

With the Jets at 3-7 and facing their 14th consecutive season without a playoff appearance, it would probably make sense for the team to move forward with Fashanu as their starting left tackle even if/when Smith is able to return.

Smith will almost definitely not be on the roster next season while Fashanu is expected to be the team's starting left tackle in 2025 and beyond. Why not get him the extra reps while you can?

The 2024 Jets season might be one of the biggest disappointments in franchise history, but if they can at least find their long-term left tackle solution, fans can take some solace from what has otherwise been a lost year.

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