Geno Smith is leading the huddle for the Jets this year, and that change gives Olu Fashanu a cleaner path than the one he faced in 2025. The left tackle said the new setup should sharpen the way he and Armand Membou handle pressure off the edge and through the middle.
Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou
"I think from Armand and I's perspective with having more of a pocket passer like Geno, we understand that we have to be a lot more aware in terms of our outside rush and our inside rush," Fashanu said. That is the practical shift for New York’s line: fewer snaps built around a limited thrower and more snaps that ask the tackles to sort rush lanes quickly.
Fashanu’s numbers show why the adjustment matters. Last season, he logged 634 pass blocking reps, then gave up six sacks, 39 pressures and five quarterback hits. Those are the numbers of a young left tackle with real pass-protection value and clear room to tighten the finish at the edge.
Justin Fields and the line
New York’s offensive line also worked behind Justin Fields, whose average time to throw was over three seconds. Only Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy had longer times to throw, which helps explain why the Jets’ front had to hold blocks longer and why the protection picture looked different snap to snap.
That context cuts both ways for Fashanu. His pass-blocking grade was among the better at left tackle, but his run-blocking stats left much to be desired, and the 2025 Jets offensive plans fit that weakness poorly at times. A run-centric scheme put his biggest weakness on full display, while the quarterback and play-caller change now puts him in a better position to succeed in both the short and long term.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.
For the Jets, the immediate read is straightforward: two stalwart tackles on rookie contracts is a better starting point than a line forced to cover for a narrow passing setup. Fashanu’s standing with the organization is still high, and the next test is whether the cleaner pocket-pass structure turns that belief into steadier protection work from him and Membou in New York.
