FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Joe Douglas set out to fix the New York Jets offensive line this offseason.
Well, nobody can say he didn’t try.
Douglas spent money in free agency signing two starters, including a future Hall-of-Famer at left tackle (Tyron Smith) and an improving young talent at left guard (John Simpson). He traded for a familiar veteran in Baltimore Ravens right tackle Morgan Moses, who played for the Jets in 2021. That locked in the Jets starting five, with both center Joe Tippmann (a second-round pick last year) and right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (first round in 2021) set to return.
But if Douglas learned anything from the last two years, it was this: Five offensive linemen is not enough. Six isn’t, really. Honestly, 10 might not be enough based on the Jets’ recent history.
After Thursday night, the Jets are much better prepared for another worst-case scenario: Douglas drafted Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu in the first round at No. 11 after a trade-back from No. 10 with the Minnesota Vikings, getting a fourth- and fifth-round pick in return. If all goes according to plan in 2024, Fashanu will never have to even see the field.
But the Jets know better than to expect that.
“Definitely the last two years have been a revolving door of offensive linemen,” Douglas said Thursday night. “You really can’t have enough at that position.”
a moment @olu_fashanu will never forget 💚
🎥 @PennStateFball pic.twitter.com/t6AvxkbT9a
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 26, 2024
The Jets started 12 different offensive linemen in 2023 and 11 in 2022. Draft picks — like Mekhi Becton — have failed. Free-agent signings, like Duane Brown and Laken Tomlinson, have disappointed. Pro Football Focus ranked the Jets 30th in pass-blocking in 2023, 29th in 2022, 21st in 2021 and 31st in 2020. Those were the five years when Douglas had a full offseason to try and build the offensive line and, injury luck or not, he failed to do it.
Once upon a time, he promised Sam Darnold’s parents that he would fortify the offensive line in front of him. Darnold is already on his third team since that statement. It has never been for a lack of trying. Douglas has invested significant financial and draft capital in trying to build an adequate offensive line, it just hasn’t happened yet.
Even so, Douglas went into the offseason needing to fill three starting holes on the offensive line. Most would agree his pursuit of upgrades couldn’t have gone much better. Smith is one of the NFL’s best-ever offensive tackles when healthy, even now at 33. The Jets regretted letting Moses, also 33, leave as a free agent after the 2021 season. Simpson is 26 with room to grow.
But all three also carried question marks, which is why the Jets prioritized picking an offensive lineman, in a win-now year, even knowing that player doesn’t have a direct path to the starting lineup.
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“It was such a unique draft class at the tackle position because we really felt there was a handful of guys that were unbelievable players,” Douglas said. “What he does in pass pro, his production in pass pro, he has very low pressure rates playing in one of the top conferences in the country. He’s just a high-level, high-impact pass protector. I don’t think he gets enough credit for his run blocking with just a big, giant body, 6-6, 315 pounds, long arms. He’s a very tough, competitive young man.”
There were people in the Jets building hoping LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers or Washington receiver Rome Odunze would last until No. 10. Once that didn’t happen (the Jets couldn’t find a willing trade partner), Douglas pivoted to the offensive line. Fashanu was the highest-rated player left on their board, the third lineman drafted after Joe Alt and JC Latham went in the top 10. The Jets never seriously considered tight end Brock Bowers despite all the pre-draft speculation — perhaps some of it drummed up by Douglas himself — especially with Fashanu on the board.
Since Fashanu was drafted so high, and at a position where he almost certainly won’t start right away, this will be labeled a “luxury pick” for a team that hasn’t even sniffed the playoffs in Douglas’ tenure as general manager. That happened last year, too, when Douglas picked defensive end Will McDonald in the first round, even though the Jets had other needs.
But as with McDonald, this wasn’t a pick for 2024. It was a pick for 2024 and beyond. And as an added bonus: Fashanu will get the chance to learn from Smith, his hero, as a rookie without being thrown into the fire before he’s ready.
“I feel like I’m living a fairy tale,” Fashanu said, “because (Smith) was the first player I ever watched while watching film as a tackle.”
It worked. Fashanu didn’t start playing football until his freshman year of high school, developed into a top recruit, went to Penn State, dominated as a pass blocker — zero sacks allowed the last two years, and one QB hit, per Pro Football Focus — and became a no-brainer, first-round-caliber prospect. He would’ve been drafted in the first round in 2023 had he not opted to return to school. Fashanu is considered a work in progress as a run blocker but The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projects him as a “long-term starting left tackle with Pro Bowl upside.” Fashanu also said Thursday that he practiced at right tackle at Penn State and trained at the position in the pre-draft process, too.
“He’s a really high-level, high-impact pass protector.” – GM Joe Douglas on Olu Fashanu pic.twitter.com/25VzFt3ZQ8
— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 26, 2024
The man Fashanu might have to protect at some point this year — quarterback Aaron Rodgers — seemed fine with the pick, even if he might’ve preferred another pass-catcher.
“It wasn’t necessarily the top of the needs, but I know they really loved Olu,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I love what Joe did, moving back and getting a couple of extra picks.”
“Olu is a mauler,” Rodgers added. “He had an incredible career at Penn State. He’s not going to jump into tackle right away. We’ll see if we can work him in at guard.
“I think he’s going to have a long career in the league, much longer than I’m going to be in New Jersey.”
(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
