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Top Offensive Tackle Prospect Would Fill Critical Need For New Orleans Saints In First Round Of NFL Draft
A run on quarterbacks early in the draft may push this top-tier lineman right into the waiting, and needy, arms of the Saints.
Olumuyiwa Fashanu - OT, Penn State, 6-6 & 312 Lbs
The New Orleans Saints have used a first or second round choice on an offensive lineman in five of the last nine drafts. Tackle Ryan Ramczyk (2017) and C Erik McCoy (2019) have been among the league's best at their positions. G/T Andrus Peat (2015) had a solid career, despite injury issues. Guard Cesar Ruiz (2020) has been maddeningly inconsistent.
Tackle Trevor Penning (2022) was benched after six games last season. A foot injury limited Penning to just six games as a rookie, with five of those appearances as a reserve. His abysmal performance in 2023 didn't just lead to a benching, but he played a combined 13 offensive snaps over the final 11 games despite injuries and poor play along the rest of the offensive line.
The Saints are not giving up on their first round investment in Penning quite yet. However, it's also a dangerous gamble to count on his sudden development into a competent starter. Additionally, Peat is an unrestricted free agent, along with guards Trai Turner and Max Garcia, and Ramczyk has knee issues that have affected his mobility and clouded his future.
As a result, most expect New Orleans to again address the offensive tackle spot in the early rounds of the draft. There are as many as seven tackles that are projected as possible immediate starters in this year's class. Today's draft profile takes a look at one of the top linemen expected to come off the board.
Nov 4, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olumuyiwa
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
After growing up in Maryland near Washington D.C., Olu Fashanu attended Penn State, where he earned the starting left tackle job by the end of 2021. Over the next two years, he was a major fixture on a standout Nittany Lions offensive line. In 2023, he was a 1st Team All-American and recipient of the Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year award.
Fashanu has the ideal physical build, agility, and strength that NFL teams covet at this position. His entire collegiate career was spent on the left side, where NFL scouts project that he'll play.
Possessing good athleticism for his size, Fashanu gets to the second level efficiently as a lead blocker on screens and off-tackle plays. He maintains excellent footwork in pass sets and gets into his stance quickly to combat athletic rushers. When on the move, Fashanu doesn't sacrifice technique.
Fashanu has good upper body power and hand placement. Those traits allow him to effectively deal with power rushers or counter moves. As a run blocker, he fires off the line decisively and does a terrific job at opening outside lanes for runners. Fashanu sets a strong anchor as a pass blocker, but also has the fluid feet to squash counter moves and pick up extra blitzers. As dominant as he could be in college, he still has exceptional NFL upside because of his work ethic, natural abilities, and top-level technique.
Nov 4, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions offensive lineman Olumuyiwa
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
More robotic than technical at times, Fashanu can be vulnerable to highly athletic defenders or intellectual players who study traits. He'll simply need to put more trust in his natural techniques and abilities over textbook movement.
Fashanu can be too upright in his stance, causing defenders to win the leverage battle and get him on his heels. He'll need to be a more decisive finisher, particularly as a run blocker.
New Orleans holds the 14th overall selection of the first round. Olu Fashanu is expected to be, at worst, the third offensive lineman chosen and could be the first off the board. Typically, those players are gone within the first 10-12 picks.
There are a number of projected starting quarterbacks in this class. That, combined with several quarterback-needy teams at the top of the draft, could push other top-level players down the board.
Olu Fashanu has the makings of an immediate starter and natural potential of a perennial Pro Bowler. If he's there at 14 for the Saints, he'd be an immediate upgrade for an offensive line that's struggled greatly the last two years.
