Offensive Tackle Prospects 'Dream' of Jets, Aaron Rodgers
There's a question as to which ones will be available to the New York Jets at No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft, but there's no questioning the effect that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has on the team's potential draftees.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, four highly-regarded first-round offensive tackle prospects fielded questions about lining up in front of a future Hall-of-Fame field general and all four expressed excitement over the possibility.
With three starting positions open on the offensive line, it seems highly likely that the Jets will use their first-round draft pick to select a franchise bookend. After all, head coach Robert Saleh's weekend trip to Indianapolis coincides with offensive line on-field testing.
Notre Dame's Joe Alt and Penn State's Olu Fashanu are widely viewed as the top-two talents available at the position, but both could be gone by the time the Jets hit the clock on draft night. Oregon State right tackle Taliese Fuaga has been rated as the next-best option and Georgia's Amarius Mims continues to rise due to his massive size and NFL attributes.
All four men sounded willing to accept the responsibility of protecting the Jets' four-time NFL MVP, who is coming off Achilles surgery.
"It'd be truly an honor. Watched him growing up," said Alt. [I'm] from Minnesota, Wisconsin so I've seen a lot of him when he played for the Packers. It'd be very cool."
The 21-year-old Alt, who earned All-America honors for Notre Dame, hails from NFC North territory having been born in North Oaks, MN.
"Speechless for me," said Fuaga. "You see Aaron Rodgers growing up as a kid and stuff. You potentially could block for this guy, which is crazy for me. Just a dream kinda thing."
Linked to the Jets by multiple mock drafts, Fuaga reportedly impressed team brass during Reese's Senior Bowl Week in Mobile.
"Aaron Rodgers is a guy I grew up watching with the Packers," said Mims. "He's, like I said, one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. I would love that."
Mainly a reserve prior to an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, Mims possesses the desired physical traits but has fewer than 10 career starts to his credit. Despite the lack of experience, the Georgia product projects as a first-round talent.
"It would be awesome," said Fashanu. "Aaron Rodgers is a legend of the game. So, to have the opportunity to be able to block for him would be awesome."
Fashanu, the Rimington-Pace Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year, could fall into the Jets' lap if enough quarterbacks jump into the Top 10.
