Dream Scenario? Jets Draft Star Left Tackle in ESPN Post-Combine Mock Draft
Few teams received better news than the New York Jets throughout the NFL Scouting Combine.
There’s little debate over the Jets’ prioritized needs: offensive linemen and pass catchers. As athletic testing confirmed priors, mitigated concerns, and boosted draft stocks, New York can feel comfortable that no matter how the board falls, one of those needs will be met with a quality prospect with the 10th overall pick.
At one point, the Jets badly needed quarterbacks to go in droves before their selection. Now, with three receivers, a tight end, and several tackles seemingly destined for the top 15, there’s a layer of comfort that didn’t exist this time last week.
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This was reflected in ESPN’s latest two-round mock draft, in which New York has just a single pick. Its selection, though, has them happily marching to the podium.
At No. 10, the Jets selected Penn State left tackle Olu Fashanu.
Fashanu is widely viewed as one of the top two tackles in this class, paired with Notre Dame’s Joe Alt – the Fighting Irish standout went seventh in this rendition to the Tennessee Titans.
“The Jets would be jumping for joy if Fashanu fell into their lap,” Jordan Reid wrote. “With arguably the most upside of any blocker in the class, Fashanu is a polished pass protector who has made strides as a run-blocker over 21 career starts.
“Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be 41 years old next season and coming off a torn Achilles, so finding reliable protection for him is an offseason necessity. And Fashanu has the making of a franchise left tackle.”
Fashanu may have smaller hands than the prototypical tackle but at 6-6, 312 pounds, with elite testing numbers, he checks every box.
The traits that make him special are his ability to pick up stunts and transition from defender to defender and his proclivity for seamlessly recovering in the rare instances where he gets beat. He’s flexible, strong, and fundamentally strong, making him a safe bet to be a quality starter from the jump.
Simply put, this is one of the scenarios fans can feel ecstatic about. Getting one of the blue-chip prospects at a position of need – and a valuable one at that – is as best-case as one can get with a pick as late as the Jets.
