With the 2024 NFL Draft come and gone, the league is in the dog days of the off-season. Team needs were addressed this week, but short-term holes still need to be resolved before OTAs begin. Fortunately, teams like the New York Jets have confidently confronted their weaknesses. Joe Douglas through a combination of trades and quality signings has developed a better offensive line than we saw last year. Three new veterans from playoff teams have arrived. Morgan Moses and John Simpson left Baltimore for New York. Future hall of famer Tyron Smith moved from the NFC East to the AFC East. On top of that, the 11th overall pick Olu Fashanu can become the best left tackle since D’Brickashaw Ferguson.
While the goal remains to win with Aaron Rodgers, it’s clear Joe Douglas is prioritizing the future. With the combination of this offseason’s additions and the youth present, New York has building blocks on offense ready. Even if Aaron Rodgers retires after this season, the Jets offensive line has the opportunity for long-term success.
Jets Offensive Line Gains Long-Term Assets
The New York Jets problems on offense went far beyond Aaron Rodgers lost season. Questionable playcalling from Nathaniel Hackett. Inefficient quarterback play. Dropped passes in crucial moments. These problems were exacerbated by a revolving door in the offensive line. After losing Alijah Vera-Tucker in the Broncos game, the offensive line only escalated to further distress in East Rutherford. The fact Billy Turner was starting games at right tackle speaks to the lack of depth New York dealt with last year.
Fortunately, Joe Douglas remembered that you need to win in the trenches. No longer would Aaron Rodgers former teammates have roster spots with him as an armchair general manager. Joe Douglas recognized that things needed to change and he’s done an excellent job of learning from his mistakes.
Alijah Vera-Tucker has a permanent home
While Zach Wilson turned into a disaster with the second overall pick, Alijah Vera-Tucker remains a smart move in the 2021 NFL Draft. The former USC Trojan had a great rookie season and showcased his versatility between tackle and guard. Unfortunately, injuries in the past two seasons have stunted major development for AVT. Vera-Tucker turns 25 next month and is returning from a torn Achilles. The latest updates show he’s been on the mend and should be available to start the season. Thanks to the depth signings at tackle, Vera-Tucker can officially remain at right guard. The move is too valuable as Vera-Tucker’s upside is far greater in the interior than at tackle.
John Simpson
Speaking of the interior offensive line, the Jets signed a valuable piece of the Ravens running game. John Simpson spent his first season out of Las Vegas helping Baltimore to the first seed in the conference and Lamar Jackson’s second MVP. Although on a one-year deal last year, Simpson looked sharp working his way from a practice squad contract to starting at left guard. While entering his fifth season in the league, John Simpson is only 26 years old. While he will be the oldest player mentioned in this article, Simpson’s playing experience blocking for Trevor Lawrence at Clemson and a former MVP in Lamar Jackson is beneficial experience within the line.
Joe Tippmann
Since the retirement of Nick Mangold, fans have longed to see a center of his caliber lead the offensive line in Metlife Stadium. They have the closest thing to him in the 2023 second-round pick, Joe Tippmann. The former Wisconsin Badger was a scout’s dream in the running game at Wisconsin. Tippmann was starting and creating running lanes for Jonathan Taylor as a freshman. After that, he was doing the same for 2024 fourth-round pick Braelon Allen. After shifting to right guard once AVT got hurt, Tippmann displayed the traits that made him the first center drafted in 2023. Moving into the starting center job will be a big test for him, but Tippmann has the intangibles worthy of the job.
Carter Warren
While not as touted as the others on this list, he provided a great deal of value last year. Carter Warren was an extremely promising offensive tackle out of the University of Pittsburgh. Although injuries caused him to both fall in the draft and miss his first OTAs as a rookie, he put in some promising tape last year. Starting at both right and left tackle, he showcased that strong pass-blocking ability that drew scouts’ attention in Pittsburgh. Warren became the starting right tackle in the final three games of the season. While he will be the backup to Morgan Moses, having a veteran like Moses to learn from can be an asset for Warren’s development. If Warren can remain healthy and flash the same potential witnessed last year, he can easily become the team’s starting right tackle of the future.
Olu Fashanu
After weeks of speculation on whom the Jets would draft with the tenth overall pick, the team managed to gain draft picks while trading back one spot. After Minnesota selected JJ McCarthy with the 10th pick, New York was on the clock at 11 and made another investment in the offensive line. Olu Fashanu was easily the best left tackle in the Big Ten conference last year. The 21-year-old out of Penn State let up only a single sack in his three years with the Nittany Lions. Fashanu earned consensus All-American honors last year as well.
Despite likely not seeing the field much this year, his real challenge will be in the practice room. Behind a future Hall of Famer in Tyron Smith, Fashanu has a remarkable opportunity. With the pressure to not start this year off his shoulders, New York can spend the year honing Fashanu’s skills. Smith is the perfect mentor to teach Olu the tools of the trade to hone his abilities. If Fashanu is receptive to this mentoring, the sky is the limit on his potential for the next decade.
Main Photo: [Jim Dedmon] – USA Today Sports
