Latest news with #Fashanu
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jets OT Olu Fashanu shines in joint practice with Giants top pass rusher
Olu Fashanu is stonewalling Kayvon Membou having a little more trouble with Brian Burns. The New York Jets held a joint practice with the New York Giants on Tuesday afternoon. It served as an excellent measuring stick ahead of their upcoming second preseason game versus the same opponent. Left tackle Olu Fashanu was a standout at practice. The Giants are loaded at pass rusher. Veteran duo Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns are among the better pass-rushing duos in the league. The Giants also drafted Abdul Carter at No. 3 overall in the 2025 NFL draft. The reports coming out of practice insinuated that Fashanu was routinely shutting Thibodeaux down in drills. It was the continuation of what Fahsanu displayed in the Jets' 30-10 preseason Week 1 victory over the Green Bay Packers. The sophomore offensive tackle played 10 offensive snaps, helping lead the Jets to a 79-yard TD drive before exiting. Fashanu did not allow any quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. The Jets' offense will largely rely on the effectiveness of its offensive line in 2025. The dual-threat Justin Fields requires stellar protection in order to execute offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand's game plan. Fashanu has been one of the Jets' most impressive players throughout training camp, and that's exactly what they need.
Fox Sports
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
NFL breakout candidates: One player from each AFC team primed to make a leap in 2025
Now's the time for daydreaming. We know the star players who will shape the 2025 NFL season. But every team that makes a playoff run this fall will get contributions from a new name or two. The next Super Bowl champion could be sparked by a guy no one was talking about before the season — just ask the Philadelphia Eagles about Zack Baun. Not every breakout player in 2025 is going to be selected All-Pro, win a Super Bowl and sign a lucrative new contract, like Baun, but their contributions will be felt across the league. So, we're going to look across the league. Let's find a potential breakout player for all 32 teams. In the interest of creativity, we'll look past the quarterback position and try to find someone that's truly off the radar. Here are my AFC picks. RELATED: One player from each NFC team primed to make a leap in 2025 AFC East Buffalo Bills: WR Joshua Palmer Maybe I'm cheating a bit by listing a guy who just signed a $29 million contract as a breakout candidate, but it really feels like people are sleeping on this addition in Buffalo. Palmer was a solid receiver for four years in L.A. without truly having a breakthrough season, but I think that could change this year. You're talking about a guy who can separate vertically and make contested catches. Roughly 40% of Palmer's receptions were explosive gains last year. And you're dropping him into an offense with Josh Allen? There's some very fun potential here. Miami Dolphins: OT Patrick Paul Call this one breakout by necessity. The Dolphins drafted Paul with an eye on him succeeding Terron Armstead, and that time has come. The second-year pro figures to start at left tackle, and it'd be big for the stability of the entire offensive line if the transition goes smoothly. Armstead himself has said Paul is up to the task, so here's hoping. New England Patriots: LB Jack Gibbens I love to connect the dots when I'm doing an exercise like this. Gibbens got his first crack as an NFL starter in 2023 from then-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel. Two years later, it's no surprise to see him pop up with Vrabel in New England. He's smart, tough and has a knack for making tackles, which has to remind Vrabel of himself a little bit. Marquee free-agent signing Robert Spillane owns one of the starting linebacker jobs in New England, but there's plenty of room for Gibbens to make an impression. New York Jets: OT Olu Fashanu We all know Fashanu's name because he was the No. 11 overall pick in last year's draft, but we didn't see that much of him as a rookie. With just 534 NFL snaps to his name, there's still plenty of room for Fashanu to grow. If the Jets' current roster reset is going to work as well as they want it to, they'll be hoping to see Fashanu's arrow point up. AFC North Baltimore Ravens: S Malaki Starks Unfortunately for the Ravens, the stakes have been raised for their latest first-round pick. When Baltimore picked Starks in April, they were no doubt hoping Ar'Darius Washington would build on his fantastic 2024 season and take some pressure off the rookie. That plan went awry just two weeks later, when Washington tore his Achilles. There's still a ton of talent in the Ravens' secondary, but it would be big if Starks is ready for a big role from the jump. Cincinnati Bengals: OT Amarius Mims Mims was my pick here last summer. While it didn't quite come to fruition, I'm comfortable doubling down. Mims missed a sizable chunk of training camp and still allowed just four sacks in 13 starts. There's plenty to work on, but I'm still betting that Mims — who is still just 22 — can grow into a force for the Bengals' offensive line. Cleveland Browns: LB Carson Schwesinger Perfect combination of talent and opportunity. Draftniks were pumped when Cleveland made Schwesinger an early second-round pick this year, having fallen in love with his instincts and nose for the ball. There's also a clear path to the field in Cleveland. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is out for the year due to injury, which means the Browns are somewhat thin. Here's guessing draft nerds aren't the only ones who know his name by October or November. Pittsburgh Steelers: C Zach Frazier This feels like a layup, because Frazier is already on his way to being a standout center. As a rookie, PFF graded him fourth among all starting centers in run block grade, and sixth in pass block grade. He allowed just 12 pressures and one sack in 15 appearances. If he continues on this trajectory, Frazier should be the Steelers' first Pro Bowl center since Maurkice Pouncey called it a career in 2020. AFC South Houston Texans: WR Jayden Higgins There's playing time available for someone who wants it. It looks likely that Tank Dell is going to miss the entire 2025 season due to the timing of last year's gruesome injury. Even with Christian Kirk joining the squad, there's still an open job alongside him and Nico Collins. Ironically, there are a couple rookies out of Iowa State to choose from, but I'll roll with the 6-foot-4 guy who can separate. Indianapolis Colts: S Nick Cross Colts fans will probably say that Cross has already broken out, but I'm not sure how many outsiders are aware that the former third-round pick out of Maryland racked up 146 tackles and three picks last year in his first season as a starter. What makes this fun is that Cross should have more help now. The Colts' secondary was a bit understaffed in 2024, but the front office addressed that by signing proven vets in Charvarius Ward and Cam Bynum. Indy's secondary could be an actual strength this season, and that's an exciting prospect for a guy trying to raise his profile, like Cross. Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Maason Smith Smith is the classic case of a guy who saw the light toward the tail end of his rookie year. It wasn't always a smooth ride, as the 2024 second-round pick was a healthy scratch six times last year. But once he got back into the lineup in Week 13, it seemed to click. Of Smith's 17 tackles as a rookie, 12 came in the last six weeks of the season. The same can be said for his pass rush stats — 11 of his 14 pressures and two of his three sacks happened in December and January. If he can carry that progress over into Year 2, it'd be huge for a defensive front that already employs several quality pass-rushers. Tennessee Titans: OT J.C. Latham Here's guessing Latham's life is about to get a lot easier. That's not to say he was bad as a rookie, but it's tough when you're forced to switch to left tackle and protect a rotating cast of quarterbacks. Year 2 looks better for a lot of reasons. For starters, he's back at right tackle, where he started. And maybe more importantly, Cam Ward's poise, pocket presence and maneuverability should make life easier on the Titans' entire offensive line. Latham wasn't bad last year, it's just that I have high hopes for how much better this year could be. AFC West Denver Broncos: RB R.J. Harvey The Broncos are running it back with a very similar lineup to last year, and the newcomers — Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, are all known names. That doesn't leave a lot of options for breakout stars, but I'm excited about the rookie running back. Harvey joins a wide-open group with no true favorite for playing time. Working with a playcaller of Sean Payton's caliber, there's big opportunity for Harvey to jump onto the radar. Kansas City Chiefs: S Jaden Hicks It's always telling when a successful team lets a free agent walk out the door. Justin Reid was an underrated piece of the Chiefs' dynastic defense during the three years he was in Kansas City, so it piqued my interest when they let him walk in the spring. Then again, if you watched Hicks during his rookie year, maybe you aren't surprised. Despite playing just 330 snaps on defense, Hicks still managed to finish with 29 tackles, three interceptions and five pass breakups. Give him a full year of starts under Steve Spagnuolo, and we might be looking at the next star safety in that secondary. Las Vegas Raiders: C Jackson Powers-Johnson It's not that Powers-Johnson was bad as a rookie, it's mainly just that there'll be a reason to watch him in 2025. Pardon the pun, but the Raiders were a black hole for relevance last season when Powers-Johnson made his debut. That won't be the case now, as he gets set to block for Ashton Jeanty and protect Geno Smith. Los Angeles Chargers: LB Daiyan Henley You've probably heard the story, but it bears repeating. Henley tore the labrum in his left shoulder during a Week 4 loss to Kansas City last year, and he proceeded to play through it. Not only did he gut it out, he thrived to the tune of 147 total tackles — including a streak of six-straight games with double-digit stops. Needless to say, the guy's a beast. If that's what he can do with a bum shoulder, here's guessing he'll be a Pro Bowler by the end of Year 3. David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He previously spent nine seasons covering the Cowboys for the team's official website. In 2018, he won a regional Emmy for his role in producing "Dak Prescott: A Family Reunion" about the quarterback's time at Mississippi State. Follow him on Twitter at @davidhelman_ . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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USA Today
08-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Jets, Morgan Moses remain in talks ahead of free agency
Report: Jets, Morgan Moses remain in talks ahead of free agency While at one point the opposite seemed true, offensive lineman Morgan Moses might continue his current stay with the New York Jets. According to ESPN, Moses and the team are still trying to work on a new contract prior to the free agent market opening on Monday: This turn for the team and 33-year-old changes things up from previous reports. Those said it "isn't expected" that Moses would return to New York. The deal is not yet done, but ESPN's update indicates it is possible. Moses' deal was worth $15 million for the 2024 season. Along with Moses, veteran tackle Tyron Smith also signed a one-year contract in New York last offseason. The two veterans were the opening-day starters for the Jets which allowed the team to bring first-round rookie Olu Fashanu along slowly during his rookie season. However, Fashanu did eventually find himself put into the lineup because of injury and down the stretch he thrived. Fashanu had five-straight starts in the second half of the that spell, Fashanu earned his best Pro Football Focus grade of the season in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, a 75.7 overall. In addition, the outlet's metrics did not grade him lower than a 63.3 mark following that Cardinals outing. In his own right, Moses earned a solid 63.3 overall mark from PFF in 14 games played. On top of that, he played through injury. Jets Wire will continue to provide updates on the team throughout the 2025 NFL offseason.
USA Today
18-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Update on Morgan Moses' future with the New York Jets
The New York Jets starting offensive line from last season appears to be losing a piece in 2025. Right tackle Morgan Moses, 33, will evidently be one-and-done (again) in New York. After signing a one-year contract last offseason, Moses reportedly 'isn't expected' return to the team in 2025 according to SportsNet New York: Sad news…@Connor_J_Hughes revealed that Morgan Moses 'isn't expected to return' to the #Jets this offseason. This makes absolutely NO SENSE! Great teammate + tough + would come cheap + NYJ could return all 5 OL starters. FIGURE THIS OUT JETS! — Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) February 18, 2025 Moses' deal was worth $15 million for the 2024 season. He is slated to become a free agent in March. Along with Moses, veteran tackle Tyron Smith also signed a one-year contract in New York last offseason. The two veterans were the opening-day starters for the Jets which allowed the team to bring first-round rookie Olu Fashanu along slowly during his rookie season. However, Fashanu did eventually find himself put into the lineup because of injury and down the stretch he thrived. Fashanu had five-straight starts in the second half of the that spell, Fashanu earned his best Pro Football Focus grade of the season in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals, a 75.7 overall. In addition, the outlet's metrics did not grade him lower than a 63.3 mark following that Cardinals outing. In his own right, Moses earned a solid 63.3 overall mark from PFF in 14 games played. On top of that, he played through injury, so there could have been potential for the Jets to bring Moses back again but that reportedly will not happen. Jets Wire will continue to provide updates on the team throughout the 2025 NFL offseason.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints given different rookie tackle in 2024 first round re-draft
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.
