Gang Green Nation
The offensive tackle position is more important than any position other than quarterback for the Jets in 2025, and a pair of recent first round picks hold the team’s fate in their hands.
The Young Bookends
Olu Fashanu
Armand Membou
Let me give you an amazing fact. In 2024 the combined age of the Jets’ starting Week 1 tackles was 66. In 2025 the age of the current projected starters is 43.
I doubt anybody has ever compiled a full list, but I would be surprised if that wasn’t the biggest single season drop in NFL history.
The youth movement at tackle comes with good reason. The Jets have invested back-to-back first round picks on their bookend tackles. For years I have wondered why teams didn’t do this. If all goes well for the Jets, they won’t need to worry about the tackle position for the next eight to ten years.
For this year, Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou are important players. In fact, if you made a list of most important Jets in 2025, Justin Fields would be number one. Then Fashanu and Membou would be two and three in whichever order you choose.
The Jets figure to be challenged at the skill positions, particularly in the pass catcher department. That means they will need to lean on their line to succeed offensively.
The interior of the line looks very solid on paper. The tackle position is the question mark. Neither Fashanu nor Membou has much NFL experience. However, both have sky high potential as recent top eleven picks. If 2025 is a season of growing pains, the Jets offense could have a rough time. If both quickly reach their potential, the Jets could have a top ten offensive line. While the unit wouldn’t be setting any records, it’s difficult to not have a functional offense with a top notch line.
What can we expect from the duo? Based on his strong run at the end of 2024, I would be surprised if Fashanu wasn’t at least a credible left tackle. He started his rookie season as a backup but got early work due to various injuries along the line. Those early performances were a struggle, but he seemed to find a new gear after taking over for an injured Tyron Smith around the halfway point of the season. A lot of people have pointed to Smith’s injury opening up playing time at Fashanu’s natural position of left tackle as a difference maker. I’m not totally convinced of that. Sure, he was playing at new positions early in the season, but he just seemed overmatched to me. It might have taken him half the year or so to get stronger in the weight room and used to more talented and more sophisticated defensive linemen.
If Fashanu gives the Jets solid play, it’s not a bad thing. In fact, left tackle play is so important that he would probably justify the eleventh overall pick in 2024 if he was a...
