Before the draft, there was a lot of speculation the Jets might pick Georgia tight end Brock Bowers in the first round.
But instead, they went with Penn State offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.
The pick of Fashanu seemed to make sense since they need insurance behind older left tackle Tyron Smith, and also they need a left tackle of the future.
Another reason the pick of Fashanu made sense is that their tight end room looks strong. When Jets GM Joe Douglas said before the draft he liked the state of the team’s tight end position, if wasn’t just lip service.
Tyler Conklin might be one of the more underrated tight ends in the NFL.
“I don’t know what his number is, but at least it feels that he is one of the better contested catch guys in football,” said Jets coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. “He’s unbelievable in tight window throws and very reliable player for the quarterback, but he also blocks his tail off in line as a tight end.”
They also have 2022 third-round pick Jeremy Ruckert, a solid all-around tight end, along with promising young prospects Kenny Yeboah and Zack Kuntz, who have both flashed in spring practices.
So the tight end position might not have been the big need some made it out to be entering the draft.
*******
The new issue of Jets Confidential is out and loaded with a fountain of great inside info on the Jets that you won’t read anywhere else. To subscribe to this must-read for Jets fans, or our Website Whispers on this site (different content than the magazine), or both, click on one of the options below . . .
