There are plenty of questions surrounding the New York Jets this coming season, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Not all of those questions are inherently bad, as some merely stem from talented players needing to meet their potential. In that case, it’s a good problem to have. The offensive tackle spot is a perfect example of that, and one analyst seems to agree.
In a pre-training camp story for ESPN, Seth Walder named New York’s tackle duo of Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou as the club’s “X factor” for the 2025-26 campaign.
Young Jets Offensive Tackles Could Have Major Impact on Season
There’s a lot that could swing the outcome of this offense. According to Walder, though, not many elements may have a greater impact than how those bookends are performing.
“Tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou,” Walder wrote. “Fashanu ranked 43rd out of 66 tackles in pass block win rate (88%) as a rookie, but both tackles have the chance to be plus starters. Fields has been known to take a sack (or three), and good (or not) pass protection could be the difference between this offense being efficient (or not).”
Fashanu is an interesting case. After he flashed plenty of potential at Penn State, he went 11th overall in last year’s NFL Draft. He then went on to appear in 15 regular-season games, with seven of them being starts. After making five straight starts late in the year, a foot injury cut his debut campaign short.
The results were mixed. According to Pro Football Focus, Fashanu’s 61.2 overall grade ranked 73rd out of 140 qualified tackles. He didn’t fare a whole lot better (68th in run blocking) or worse (84th in pass blocking) in a specialty. With that said, he did get – and look – more comfortable as the year went on. After getting some reps at right tackle and right guard early on, Weeks 10-16 saw him play exclusively on the left side. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that his overall grades for those contests all sat between 63.3 and 75.7.
Membou, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, is oozing with upside. The Missouri product is a right tackle by trade and turned in a downright dominant 2024 effort. His combination of lower-body explosiveness, fluid hips and flexibility give him a sky-high ceiling at the next level. His athletic profile is legitimately great:
If it wasn’t already obvious, the Fashanu-Membou duo could become one of football’s best. There’s a lot of development that needs to take place, though.
New York’s Offense Has Eyes Set on Progress in 2025
Don’t get it twisted: New York’s defense is eyeing a rebound in 2025. If that happens, the club’s floor is raised closer to 2022 and 2023 seasons that led to a 7-10 record. The offensive side of the ball, however, is far more important. After future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers recovered from his Achilles rupture, the Jets’ improved from 29th in scoring to just 24th. That won’t cut it.
The Justin Fields era is underway, and it appeared to avoid disaster early in camp. The offense will go as Fields does. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand would be wise to implement a run-heavy approach, which suits Fields’ profile. It’d also allow running back Breece Hall to push for his first career 1,000-yard rushing campaign.
An underrated X factor to consider: New York’s pass catchers. Garrett Wilson is one of the better receivers in the sport, so there’s no questioning what he brings to the table. On the flip side, there absolutely is questioning what viable options there are aside from him. Is Josh Reynolds going to emerge as a formidable secondary target? How long will it take rookie tight end Mason Taylor to get acclimated?
The tackle tandem is important, but there’s plenty to factor into the picture of this Jets offense.
Jets’ Young Duo Named X Factor of 2025 Season