New York Jets sign first-round draft pick Olu Fashanu, rookie contract details revealed

The New York Jets signed first-round pick Olu Fashanu to his rookie contract on Monday and now, the former Penn State offensive tackle is ready for his career to officially begin.

Fashanu signed a four-year deal worth $20.510 million and a signing bonus of $12 million. He’ll be locked in with the Jets through the 2027 season. His deal also includes a fifth-year option for New York to keep him through 2028. They’ll make that decision after his third year in the league.

Fashanu was one of the best tackles available in the 2024 NFL Draft. With the No. 11 overall selection, he’ll be tasked with protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers was personally a big fan of the pick in the first round.

“Yeah I mean we already made three moves in the offseason bringing in John [Simpson] to play guard, and Morgan [Moses] to play tackle, and Tyron [Smith] to play tackle as well,” Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show. “So it wasn’t necessarily the top of the needs, but I know they really loved Olu and I loved what Joe [Douglas] did moving back and getting a couple more picks.”

General manager Joe Douglas has made it pretty clear through his offseason decision-making that he wants to protect the NFL’s oldest quarterback ahead of the 2024 season.

“Back to Olu (Fashanu), he didn’t give up a sack I think his entire college career. Which is saying a lot because you’re going against great schools in the Big Ten like Wisconsin and every now and then Iowa, right Mad Mel?” Rodgers said joking with the PMS persona.

“But I love our skill group, I knew that we really liked all three of the receivers so I was watching film on those guys, I watched film on the lineman. Olu is a mauler and he had an incredible career at Penn State. He’s not gonna need to jump in right away, at tackle for sure, we’ll see if we work him in at guard but I think he’s going to have a long career in the league. Much longer than I’m gonna be in New Jersey.”

Prior to the NFL Draft, Fashanu played high school football at Gonzaga (Washington D.C.), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 423 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.