The Jets, who are in the midst of trade talk in the NFL Draft, executed the first trade of the night, swapping places with No. 11 Minnesota and moving up to No. 10.
And with the No. 11 overall selection, the Jets will compete for the starting job in Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu, protect quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and head coach Robert Saleh's offense as head coach of the green and white. He was selected to help improve the depth and quality of the offensive line. For the 2024 season.
“We're really excited to welcome big Ol to the Jets,” general manager Joe Douglas told reporters shortly after the trade and No. 11 pick was completed.
Fashanu played four years with the Nittany Lions, starting at left tackle for two years. After being named to the All-Big Ten Conference Second Team in the injury-shortened 2022 season, the focused and motivated youngster put it all together by starting 12 games last season, and by year's end. Selected by Associated Magazine. He was a first-team All-American presser and was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the “Academic Heisman.”
“It was a very unique draft class at the tackle position,” Douglas said. “We really felt like we had some unbelievable players. Orr is a left tackle, a guy who plays in pass pro, has a very low pressure percentage and plays in one of the top conferences in the country. He's a really talented pass protector, and I don't think he gets enough credit for his run blocking, but he's just a big guy and very tough and competitive. He is a young man.”
Head coach Robert Saleh said, “You all know me by now. O-line, D-line, the more the merrier.'' “No amount is enough.'' Saleh added that the recent acquisitions of veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses will help Fashanu with his transition to the pros. “They have a lot of experience, not only in technique, but also in how to become a professional and how to prepare at this level. This young man is only 21 years old. We have only scratched the surface.”
In addition to the No. 10 overall pick, the Jets also sent the No. 203 pick of the sixth round to the Vikings, in exchange for the Vikes' No. 11 pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 129) and a fifth-round pick (No. 157th place). ).
“The added ammunition is great. It gives us more flexibility,” Douglas said. “We're going to evaluate what the rest of this round is going to be and put the board together for tomorrow night, but there's going to be five or six scenarios in terms of a move up, a move back. With those additional picks. , we have a lot of flexibility to do different things.”
The Jets have visited Happy Valley frequently over the years, and Fashanu is the 28th Nittany Lion drafted by the Green and White. Many of the Penn State Jets' notable draft prospects started with LB Ralph Baker (43rd pick in 1964), DE John Ebersole (98th pick in 1970), LB Greg Battle (67th pick in 1976), Following LB Lance, he played on the defensive side. Mehl (69th in 1980), S Harry Hamilton (176th in 1984), DT Lou Benfatti (94th in 1994).
Recently, PSU's offensive players have been dominant: TE Mickey Shuler (61st in 1978), RB Blair Thomas (2nd in 1990), OL Roger Duffy (196th in 1990), FB Richie Anderson (144th in 1993), TE Kyle Brady (9th in 1995), T Kareem McKenzie (79th in 2001), and most recently QB Christian Hackenberg (51st in 2016).
The Jets' last tackle in the first round was Louisville's Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2020 draft. The last time the Jets selected a tackle higher than No. 10 was in 2006 when they took Dobrika Shaw Ferguson from Virginia at No. 4. The other No. 4 overall tackles in Jets history were LT Chris Ward (Ohio State, 1978) and RT Marvin Powell (Southern University). Cal, 1977), and started 84 of 93 games as a bookend tackle for the Jets from 1978 to 1983.
Other Jets round 1 tackles who played for the team include Dave Cadigan (8th in 1988), Mike Haight (22nd in 1986), and AFL-era Dave Foley (26th in 1969). and William Yearby (13th place, 1966).