Tag: Olu Fashanu

Saints given different rookie tackle in 2024 first round re-draft

The New Orleans Saints got a talented rookie tackle in the 2024 NFL draft, but would they do the same if given another choice?

The New Orleans Saints had some success with their first round pick Taliese Fuaga last season, but would they still go with him if given another chance today?

That’s the hypothetical that Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport looked at in his recent re-do of the 2024 NFL draft. For the Saints, they now decided to go with Olu Fashanu out of the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Here is what Davenport had to say about the pick:

Fashanu didn’t play as much as some of the other Round 1 tackles after being drafted 11th overall by the Jets. But in 534 snaps per Pro Football Focus, Fashanu surrendered just a single sack.

Fashanu was originally off the board, but the New York Jets now selected J.J. McCarthy this time around. While Fashanu was certainly a more highly-touted prospect than Fuaga at the time, there is an argument to be made that it would be the other way around right now. Fuaga fell to the No. 18 pick (Cincinnati Bengals) in this do-over.

For someone that didn’t play the position in college, Fuaga did a nice job at left tackle for New Orleans. It wasn’t perfect, but there was plenty to like about his performance. He allowed two or less pressures in 11 games, flashing some real talent at times. It’s not that Fashanu was bad, it’s just that there is no reason for the Saints to be unhappy with their original selection.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

ESPN named Taliese Fuaga the NFL’s best rookie left tackle

ESPN named Taliese Fuaga the NFL’s best rookie left tackle. He won All-Rookie team honors over several players drafted before him:

Shout to Taliese Fuaga — the New Orleans Saints left tackle was named the best rookie at his position by ESPN. Ben Solak shared his 2024 NFL All-Rookie team, and Fuaga won top honors on the first team.

Its’s even more impressive when you remember that Fuaga didn’t play on the left side in college. He moved from right tackle to left after turning pro and proved to be the team’s best option at that spot. Here’s how his rookie season stacked up against his peers:

2024 stats: 17 starts, 84.0% pass block win rate, 74.1% run block win rate
Drafted: Round 1, No. 14

Sorting out the first- and second-team left tackles was a heartbreaking endeavor. Fuaga, JC Latham (Titans) and Olu Fashanu (Jets) all delivered on or exceeded their draft billing as blindside protectors. Having to rank them is impossible and unfair, and Jets and Titans fans can be justifiably upset with me.

With that said, I found myself most impressed by Fuaga, who I thought would take more rookie lumps transitioning from the right side to the left and pass-setting against NFL pass rushers. Fuaga still has a wart or two in pass protection, but he more than makes up for it with dominant power in the running game and the strength to recover when he loses early in his reps. The future is bright at left tackle in New Orleans.

There was plenty of debate about who the Saints should have picked at No. 14 last spring before they took Fuaga; Latham and Fashanu were popular in mock drafts, too, but ultimately neither of them made it to New Orleans’ pick. It turns out the Saints did well to get Fuaga where they did.

Fuaga was the only rookie to clinch a spot on the All-Rookie team ahead of his peers is tremendous. We’ll see whether he stays at left tackle in 2025 or moves back to the right side (or inside to guard, depending on how the Saints move in this year’s draft) but he’s clearly someone they should have on the field for every offensive snap. This is exactly the kind of pick the team must hit on to rebuild their roster.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Jets vs. Vikings: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 5

Jets vs. Vikings: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 5

The New York Jets will face the Minnesota Vikings in their upcoming Week 5 matchup.

Even with it being a a cross-conference clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Jets (2-2) against the Vikings (4-0) matchup:

CB Sauce Gardner vs. WR Justin Jefferson

(USAT)

This one needs little introduction.

Gardner is considered among the NFL’s best at his position. The same can be said for Jefferson.

It’s a battle of heavyweights here which will be fun to watch.

OL Olu Fashanu vs. ED Pat Jones II

(Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

The Jets offensive line, as a whole, must play better than they did last week. New York’s first-round rookie in Olu Fashanu did not play well in his first start. Pro Football Focus dropped his overall grade for the season all the way down to 45.3 after that outing, which is the third-worst of any tackle in the NFL.

Fashanu will see plenty of edge defender Pat Jones II. The Vikings defender has five sacks.

LB Jamien Sherwood vs. QB Sam Darnold

(Imagn)

As is always the case, it’s a full-defensive effort to stop an opposing quarterback. However, CJ Mosley (toe) is unlikely to play again meaning Sherwood will be in position to be the “quarterback” of the Jets defense once again. He needs to make sure that the Jets defense is in position to stop Darnold throughout the day. Mosley would have had a bit of a leg up on Sherwood, potentially. He was one of Darnold’s former teammates in New York.

[lawrence-related id=697359,697356,697350]

Jets vs. Broncos: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 4

Jets vs. Broncos: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 4

The New York Jets will host the Denver Broncos in their upcoming Week 4 matchup.

Even with it being a big, early season AFC clash, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Jets (2-1) against the Broncos  (1-2) matchup:

OL Olu Fashanu vs. ED Jonathon Cooper

 (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Pretty simple one here: How does Fashanu look in his first-career start? Cooper will be lining up on the edge on the right side of the Jets’ offensive line. Cooper has three sacks so far this season and Pro Football Focus grades him positively in the run game, too. He is PFF’s 10th best edge defender against the run this season (73.3).

DL Quinnen Williams vs. OL Luke Wattenberg

(USAT)

Coming into Sunday’s matchup, PFF has ranked Wattenberg as the 31st best center in the NFL with an overall grade of 51.5. That’s No. 31 out of 32 qualifying centers. That is bad.

Williams looked elite against the New England Patriots in Week 3. And as we saw, if he has a big game, that ripples down the Jets’ defensive front. If Williams can do that again, it’s going to be a bad day to be Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

WR Garrett Wilson vs. CB Patrick Surtain II

 (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

The Broncos’ secondary is among the best in the NFL so far this season. Even so, the Jets still have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback who should be trying to keep Denver’s defense on their toes by toss the ball around the yard. Let’s see him and Wilson officially have a breakout party in this one against Surtain.

[lawrence-related id=696939,697043,696890]

Aaron Rodgers has elite comparison for Jets rookie Olu Fashanu

Aaron Rodgers has elite comparison for Jets rookie Olu Fashanu

The bar is already high for Olu Fashanu before his first-career start with the New York Jets.

Fashanu, the 11th overall pick at the 2024 NFL draft, is set to start in place of veteran offensive tackle Morgan Moses against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. During New York’s 24-3 win over the New England Patriots last week, Fashanu replaced Moses when he injured his knee and the veteran is slated to now miss multiple weeks.

Ahead of the big moment, Fashanu is confident.

“I’m pretty comfortable,” Fashanu said. “I feel like I’m in a pretty good spot right now.”

Against the Pats, Pro Football Focus graded Moses a 50.8 overall. PFF graded Fashanu a 70.8 during his 14 snaps played.

It’s a small sample size, but something to build on. Just like Aaron Rodgers’ comparison for Fashanu.

The Jets quarterback said Fashanu reminds him of one of the team’s all-time great offensive linemen: D’Brickashaw Ferguson.

“I don’t like to do a lot of comparisons, but I will in this case,” Rodgers said. “Very confident in him.”

Rodgers’ full comparison can be found in the clip below:

Taliese Fuaga was Week 1’s best rookie offensive tackle in pass protection

Taliese Fuaga delivered on the hype. He was ESPN’s best rookie offensive tackle in pass protection from Week 1’s games:

Taliese Fuaga delivered on the hype in his New Orleans Saints debut. He was ESPN’s best rookie offensive tackle in pass protection from Week 1’s games — ESPN sports analytics writer Seth Walder shared the pass block win rates for each of this year’s rookie starters, and Fuaga was head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Here’s where they ranked after Week 1 among the 60 starting offensive tackles:

  1. Taliese Fuaga, 94% (15th)
  2. Tyler Guyton, 84% (36th)
  3. Joe Alt, 79% (48th)
  4. Kingsley Suamataia, 69% (57th)
  5. J.C. Latham, 65% (59th)

Now there’s an important caveat here we should note; Week 1 isn’t over at the time of writing, with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers kicking off on Monday night. But the only rookie offensive tackle competing in that game is Olu Fashanu, who isn’t starting for the Jets. Still, it’s likely that guys like Trent Williams and Morgan Moses could push Fuaga down the standings a little bit.

Either way, he’s immediately set high standards for himself. And we should remember that Fuaga is doing all of this at left tackle after exclusively lining up on the right side at Oregon State. He was fouled for a weak holding call against the Panthers but he’s known for not making the same mistake twice, and that was really the only big blemish on his first game as a pro. The sky’s the limit for what he can achieve moving forward.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

2024 Rookie preview: Olu Fashanu, OT, New York Jets

2024 Rookie preview for New York Jets top pick Olu Fashanu and how the OT from Penn State projects in 2024

The New York Jets went into the offseason looking to avoid anything close to the disaster of a season that they experienced last year. With high expectations remaining given the talent on the roster this team needed to ensure it protects Aaron Rodgers and prevents the disaster of him being injured for a second straight season. The mega free agent signing of Tyron Smith was step one, and finding quality depth behind him in former Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu sealed up their tackle depth for the season.

Fashanu walks into camp with the luxury of little pressure to play right away and fix the problems the offensive line had last season now that both sides of the line are secure with veterans Morgan Moses and the aforementioned Smith. Being able to learn behind those two quality veterans is going to work wonders for Fashanu and really allow him to maximize what is some enormous potential.

It’s hard to project any snaps for the rookie as both Smith and Moses are some of the best commodities in the league and stand to last he entire season protecting Aaron Rodgers at all costs. Should either one go down, Fashanu should be able to slide in on either side and continue a high level of play from one of the stronger tackle groups in the league.

Jets rookie Olu Fashanu gets praised by NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger

Olu Fashanu had some good moments in Saturday’s preseason game.

Not only is Olu Fashanu adjusting to life in the NFL, but the New York Jets rookie is also learning a new position. There is some promise here, so says NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger.

Fashanu, a first-round pick of the Jets, was a standout left tackle at Penn State and a multi-year All-Big Ten selection. On Saturday night, Fashanu played right tackle for the Jets in their preseason win at the Carolina Panthers.

For Baldinger, a former standout NFL offensive lineman who does outstanding work for the NFL Network as an analyst, there are some good building blocks here.

In a social media post on Tuesday, Baldinger highlighted some of the areas of development needed for Fashanu from Saturday’s preseason game. But, there were some significant signs of the Jets top draft pick getting it.

“When he gets his hands on guys, and he is moving his feet at the same time, he’s almost unbeatable,” Baldinger said.

“That’s good, he drops an anchor. You watch him right here, and this is good. Watch him…He likes to get underneath guys, and his legs are so strong.”

Baldinger cautioned that it will take time. Two years ago, he said that Tristan Wirfs was an All-Pro at right tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He moved to left tackle last year and “He said it took him 10 games until he started feeling comfortable.”

[lawrence-related id=695810,695806,695803]

 

Wirfs was an All-Pro selection in 2021 and 2022. He was named to the Pro Bowl last year for the third time in his career.

Olu Fashanu moves to right tackle, is impressive for the Jets

Olu Fashanu made his right tackle debut for the New York Jets.

In his first game at right tackle for the New York Jets, Olu Fashanu put together a solid performance. Fashanu, taken in the first round of this spring’s NFL draft, came to the Jets as a left tackle.

But it might be at right tackle where Fashanu will see the field the fastest for the Jets. That’s where Fashanu got the start in Saturday’s 15-12 win at the Carolina Panthers.

It was at left tackle while playing for Penn State that Fashanu earned multiple All-Big Ten honors over the past two years. He was named the top offensive lineman in the Big Ten last year.

For head coach Robert Saleh, it was a good performance from Fashanu as he acclimated to a different spot along the offensive line.

“New spot. It’s never easy. I thought he did a nice job. He handled it well,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh told reporters after the game.

“That first practice he was at right tackle was pretty rough for him, and I thought he got better as the week went on. He had the holding penalty today, but overall I thought he did a pretty good job.”

[lawrence-related id=695788,695785]

The Jets moved to 2-0 on the season with their 15-12 win in Carolina.

What rookies (and a young player) stood out to Robert Saleh during the Jets joint practice?

Robert Saleh talks about his team’s joint practice.

Following Thursday’s joint practice, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh highlighted several rookies who made an impression.

The Jets had a joint practice on Thursday with the Washington Commanders. The Jets will play their first preseason game on Saturday against the Commanders at MetLife Stadium.

Following the joint practice, Saleh was asked by reporters on Thursday about first-round pick Olu Fashanu (offensive tackle) and third round pick Malachi Corley (wide receiver). He highlighted two other young players in his answer about the rain-soaked joint practice.

“I know Malachi made a couple plays, there’s a couple plays I’m sure he wants back, like I said, it’s junky weather for receivers today, but we’ll see, I’ll get to the tape and have better answers for you tomorrow,” Saleh told the media.

“I felt good about what Olu looked like, but I thought [Andrew] Peasley did a nice job today, same thing with [Adrian] Martinez, so we’ll see what the tape looks like.”

Martinez signed with the Jets last week. He spent four years at Nebraska and then a single season at Kansas State before playing in the UFL last year where he was the MVP of the championship game.

[lawrence-related id=695535,695532,695527]

As for Peasley, he signed with the Jets in May as an undrafted free agent. He played collegiately at Utah State and then Wyoming.