Many New York Jets fans didn’t like the Olu Fashanu pick. Why take a rookie who won’t start in Year 1, they said. He’s only a left tackle, they said.
We know Fashanu will most likely play a significant role as a rookie. Tyron Smith has already missed practice due to tightness. That’s not an overreaction, merely a statement of fact considering his lengthy injury history. Morgan Moses’ age also makes him an injury risk.
The bigger question was if Fashanu would back up Smith and Moses or just Smith. Fashanu is taking reps exclusively at left tackle, and Robert Saleh initially indicated the Jets want to acclimate him to his natural position.
However, Saleh walked that back slightly in a press conference. When asked about putting Fashanu in at right tackle, he said, “That’s coming. But right now, it’s just a matter of just getting him what we believe he is and making sure he gets very comfortable with that first. Once he gets to that level, we’ll start working him in areas where he can advance. We’re still so early, we feel like we have plenty of time to help him understand [playing] swing [tackle].” He added that it’ll happen at some point in camp.
This is a significant development for the Jets. It previously seemed like Max Mitchell (or Carter Warren) would be the No. 2 right tackle behind Morgan Moses. The gap between Fashanu and Mitchell is vast, even though the latter is a rookie and the former a three-year veteran.
The Jets’ tackle depth has been sorely tested in recent seasons. They played seven different players at tackle in 2022 (not including Mekhi Becton, who went down before the season started) and six in 2023. Having a quality swing tackle might not resolve all ills if multiple injuries hit, but it would definitely give the Jets more insurance.
Fashanu is the Jets’ left tackle of the future. In an all-in season, though, Fashanu can serve the team best if he learns both sides of the line.
