Jets' Saleh praises rookie Fashanu: 'Definitely did not miss on that kid'

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is excited with what he's seen from Olu Fashanu, the club's first-round pick in the 2024 draft.

"He's very strong in his lower half. He is a sponge, an absolute sponge, a technician in every sense of the word. Very smart. Very willing," Saleh said Saturday, per Peter Botte of the New York Post.

"(We) definitely did not miss on that kid."

New York selected Fashanu No. 11 overall out of Penn State. He started 20 games at left tackle from 2022-23 for the Nittany Lions and didn't allow a sack on 733 pass-block snaps in college. Fashanu also secured All-Big Ten honors and won the conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2023.

The 21-year-old has taken most of his reps in camp with the Jets' second team and at left tackle behind veteran Tyron Smith, Botte reports. Smith, 33, and offseason acquisition Morgan Moses enter the season as New York's projected starters at offensive tackle. Saleh said he wants Fashanu to learn behind the veterans this season.

"That'd be the goal," Saleh said. "Olu, he's another guy I'm really looking forward to seeing in (games), going against other players."

Fashanu added that he's enjoyed training with Moses and Smith in camp.

"Just having that opportunity and getting that insight and perspective from (Smith) has been nice," he said. "I think about it as I have a Hall of Fame left tackle in my room and another veteran tackle in my room.

"They're both great guys who are willing to help me develop in any way possible, so I just try to think about it like that. … As a rookie, that's what you want, having older guys who want to help you get better."

Issues with the offensive line have plagued the Jets in recent years, with New York finishing outside the top 18 in sacks allowed per contest in each of the last five campaigns.