Olu Fashanu, New York Jets
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New York Jets offensive tackle Olu Fashanu getting ready for action during an NFL game.
The New York Jets haven’t had an All-Pro offensive lineman in 14 years.
Jets analyst Connor Rogers believes that the drought can come to an end in 2025.
“Honestly, going through all of these rosters, I’ll tell you who has a shot to make first or second team All-Pro, it’s Olu Fashanu. Go through all of the tackles in the AFC and he has every bit of a chance to be a first or second team All-Pro,” Rogers revealed on “Badlands” when asked to predict which Jets will be All-Pros this season.
“Laremy Tunsil is in the NFC now. Trent Williams is in the NFC. I’m telling you, it’s crazy, go through every single team, I think Rashawn Slater is his biggest blockade on the Chargers. Olu Fashanu can be an All-Pro this year. When you just stare at every team in the AFC, there is nothing that should scare you from him having a shot at this. It’s [his] second year, so I want to be careful, I don’t expect it, but year three if you were asking me a year from now who has the best chance on this team to be an All-Pro, outside of Sauce [Gardner] because he has done it twice, I think it’s Olu,” Rogers explained.
Fashnau, 22, has three years remaining on his $20.5 million rookie contract with a team option for the 2028 season.
There Is a Ton of Projection With the Fashanu Ceiling
Fashanu appeared in 15 games this past season and made seven starts. He got 534 snaps on offense, but they were spread across the offensive line.
Fashanu appeared in 336 snaps at left tackle, 37 snaps at right guard, and 159 snaps at right tackle. With those opportunities, Fashanu allowed one sack and was charged with seven penalties.
According to Pro Football Focus, Fashanu finished with a 61.2 overall grade, a 59.4 pass block grade, and a 61.4 run block grade.
Two things should help Fashanu greatly as he heads into year No. 2.
First off, he is now set to play his natural position. Last year, the Jets signed future Pro Football Hall of Famer Tyron Smith to play left tackle. When Fashanu was drafted, he wasn’t forced into the starting lineup. Instead, he served as a utility player, going wherever the team needed him.
In college, Fashanu was exclusively a left tackle. During his three-year career, Fashanu appeared in 29 games and made 21 starts. Dane Brugler of The Athletic revealed in “The Beast” that Fashanu finished his career with “zero sacks allowed on 733 pass-blocking snaps.”
Last year, he started the season on the bench, played in three different positions, and didn’t get a chance to find his rhythm. This offseason, he knew he was playing left tackle.
The other factor is that Fashanu can focus on football. Last offseason, Fashanu had to get ready for the underwear Olympics and focus on the circus that is the pre-draft process. This offseason, he doesn’t have to worry about any of that noise and instead can focus his efforts on being the best left tackle he can be.
History of All-Pros on the Jets
According to Pro Football Reference, the Jets have had 32 All-Pro players in team history. Only five of those have come on the offensive line.
That list includes: Kevin Mawae (seven), Marvin Powell (three), Nick Mangold (three), Joe Fields (three), and Bob Mischak (two).
Mangold was the most recent Jet to check that one off the bucket list in 2011 as a second-team All-Pro.