Aaron Rodgers certainly approves.
A year after the Jets quarterback’s season was derailed with a torn Achilles before he could even complete a pass, general manager Joe Douglas drafted someone who can help keep Rodgers healthy.
After trading with the Vikings, back one pick from No. 10 to 11, the Jets selected offensive tackle Olu Fashanu from Penn State.
Speaking on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers had high praise for the pick.
“We already made three moves in the offseason [to address the offensive line] with bringing John [Simpson] to play guard, Morgan [Moses] to play tackle and Tyron [Smith] to play tackle as well, so it wasn’t necessarily at the top of the needs,” Rodgers said. “But I know they really loved Olu.
“I love what Joe did, moving back and getting a couple more picks.”
The Jets acquired the No. 11 pick, a fourth-round pick (No. 129) and a fifth-rounder (No. 157) from the Vikings and sent the No. 10 pick and a sixth-round pick (No. 203) back to Minnesota.
The Vikings then selected Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy with the 10th pick.
“He didn’t give up a sack, I don’t think, in his entire college career,” Rodgers said. “Which is saying a lot, because you’re going against great schools in the Big Ten like Wisconsin, and every now and then Iowa. … I love our skill group. I knew we really liked all three of the receivers [Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze], so I was watching film on those guys, I was watching film on the lineman.
“Olu is a mauler. 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. I think he’s gonna have a long career in the league.”
Rodgers also took to X to show his support for Fashanu.
“Awesome moment,” Rodgers posted, accompanied by a heart emoji.
Rodgers touched on his rehab as well.
“I’m feeling good,” Rodgers said. “I was back in New Jersey last week, doing a lot of the workouts. Came back here [to California[ to kind of take care of a couple of things. The running’s been really good, feeling good with my linear speed and increasing the miles per hour. Strength is good. Can get under a squat rack and do all the things I need to do.
“It’s just the confidence. I think the last part is just to be confident enough to do all those things. It just comes from reps. The Achilles has absolutely zero pain or issues.”
