Apr 26, 2024, 1:10 p.m. ET
The New York Jets acquired additional draft capital by trading up and selecting Fashanu in the 2024 draft.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — The New York Jets could have given quarterback Aaron Rodgers the gift he never received: a receiver selected in the first round. Tight end Brock Bowers was available Thursday night, but the Jets they opted for tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu.
The New York Jets opted for tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu in the first round of the 2024 Draft. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
Y Rodgers40 years old, seemed to agree with that.
In his appearance in “The Pat McAfee Show” durante el draft, Rodgers called him “a great pick” by general manager Joe Douglas.. “We trust Joe.”
There were a lot of rumors about Bowers during the lead-up to the draft, with many speculating that the Jets would give their star quarterback a playmaker. They looked at wide receivers Malik Nabers and Rome Odunzebut both were left off the board by the Jets’ pick at No. 10 overall. They moved down one spot and traded places with the Minnesota Vikings.
In 11th place they chose Big 10 Offensive Lineman of the Year above Georgia’s scoring machine (31 touchdowns in 40 games).
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“It wasn’t necessarily the first on the list of needs, but I know they loved Olu”said Rodgers. “I love what Joe did, going back and getting a couple more picks.”
The Jets acquired fourth and fifth round picks by trading places, sending a sixth round pick to the Vikings. With one pick in the third round and three in the fourth, the Jets now have enough ammunition to advance to the second round. Currently, their second round pick belongs to the Green Bay Packers via the Rodgers trade last April.
They would like to add another offensive player, probably a wide receiver. The fact that they didn’t get a skill position player in the first round is familiar territory for Rodgers. The Packers have never used a first-round pick on a wide receiver. or a tight end during his 15-year reign as starting quarterback. Last year, the Jets drafted defensive end Will McDonald in the first round.
“Olu is a massacre,” Rodgers pointed out. “He had a incredible career at Penn State. He’s not going to jump to tackle right away. We’ll see if we can add him as a guard. “I think he will have a long career in the league, much longer than I will be in New Jersey.”
The plan is that Fashanu serves as backup for his free-agent prize in Tyron Smith as left tackle. Fashanu can learn from a potential Hall of Famer and, if pressed to perform, he can protect the future Hall of Famer’s blind side.
“I feel like I’m living a fairy tale or something,” Fashanu admitted, referring to Smith, eight-time Pro Bowl tackle with the Dallas Cowboys. “He was the first player I saw, watching film at left tackle. I didn’t start playing football until I was a freshman in high school. He, at that time, was the absolute standard at left tackle.
“So for me, having the opportunity to watch years and years of videos of him and now having this great opportunity to learn with him… What more can I ask for?”
2024-04-26 17:10:00
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