In the New York Jets’ Week 10 game against the Arizona Cardinals, left tackle Tyron Smith was benched due to a neck injury. While his absence was due to injury, some analysts believe the Jets should make Smith’s benching permanent for the remainder of the 2024 season. Joe Caporoso expressed on social media that rookie Olu Fashanu “should start every game at LT [left tackle] the rest of the way.”
The Jets haven’t seen the return on investment they expected with Smith. After signing him to a one-year contract with a potential value of $20 million—largely based on incentives tied to playing time—New York anticipated that Smith’s main hurdle would be his durability. So far, however, he has played 100% of the offensive snaps and hasn’t missed a game due to injury before Week 10. Despite this reliability, Smith’s on-field performance has been below expectations. Analyst Connor Hughes highlighted on social media that Smith allowed his seventh sack of the season against Arizona, marking his second-worst season in terms of sacks allowed. His rookie season in 2011 was his worst, with eight sacks given up. With seven games left in the season, the Jets are in a tough spot as they evaluate whether Smith can rebound or if they should shift their focus to Fashanu.
Fashanu, the Jets’ first-round pick out of Penn State and 11th overall in 2024, has the potential to be the franchise’s future at left tackle. However, with Smith in the starting role, Fashanu has primarily been used as an emergency backup, filling in at right guard and right tackle when needed. The injury to Smith may provide an opportunity for Fashanu to assume his natural left tackle position and gain essential experience.
On November 11, interim Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced that Smith would undergo an MRI to assess the extent of his neck injury. Whether or not Smith recovers in time for future games, many believe it’s time for the Jets to consider a long-term solution by allowing Fashanu to play through the rest of his rookie season, developing in the role he was drafted to fill.
Given that the Jets’ playoff prospects are looking slim, the focus is shifting to evaluating talent for the future. Smith, a likely future Hall of Famer, might not be in New York’s plans beyond this season, whereas Fashanu represents a promising foundational piece for the team’s offensive line. By committing to Fashanu, the Jets can start building for next season while identifying who will form the core of their roster going forward.
