Two Nittany Lions Set for AFC East Showdown

The path to the NFL promised bright futures for Penn State’s Olu Fashanu and Chop Robinson when their names were called in the first round of the 2024 draft. But their collegiate brotherhood will soon turn into an AFC East rivalry as the offensive tackle and edge rusher find themselves on opposite sidelines for years to come.

For the 11th overall pick Fashanu, job security on the New York Jets’ offensive line is no guarantee out of the gates. While the former Nittany Lion standout was the second offensive tackle taken, he joins a veteran duo in Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses that has been entrenched as starters when healthy. However, their recent injury histories leave the door open for Fashanu to make an early impact.

Smith, 33, battled back issues throughout 2023 that have plagued him in recent seasons. Moses, also 33, is coming off pectoral surgery after suffering a tear last year. If one or both offensive line anchors miss time, Fashanu could be thrust into a prominent role ahead of schedule. The hirculean task of protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers would then fall on the rookie’s shoulders as the Jets make a championship push.

While playing time is harder to come by behind the established pairing, Fashanu’s long-term trajectory with New York is clear. He was drafted as an heir apparent to Smith at left tackle and will be primed to take over blind-side protector duties whenever Rodgers’ heir emerges under center after the future Hall of Famer departs.

On the other side of the division, Robinson faced longer odds of being a first-round selection. But the productive Penn State pass rusher persevered until Miami deemed him worthy of the 21st overall pick.

Unlike Fashanu, Robinson has a clearer path to snaps – and potentially a starting role – as a rookie in 2024. While the Dolphins have two highly-paid options ahead of him on the depth chart, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb are both coming off serious injuries that could linger into the new season.

Phillips is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered late in 2023, while Chubb went down even later in the campaign with a torn ACL. If either is limited whenWeek 1 rolls around, Robinson could be tapped as an immediate starter and receive every opportunity to maintain that role even when Miami’s expensive veteran duo is back at full strength.

The long-term picture is much murkier for Robinson, however. Phillips is only two years into his rookie deal, meaning the Dolphins have him under team control for the foreseeable future after investing heavily in the former first-rounder. Chubb is under contract through at least 2027 after Miami dealt a first-rounder to acquire him from Denver two years ago.

Still, rotating pass-rushing repertoires have become the norm, and Robinson should factor heavily into that plan for first-year Dolphins head coach Vance Joseph. And if he shines while receiving considerable playing time early, he could force the team’s hand on a reshuffle down the road.

No matter how quickly individual opportunities arise, Fashanu and Robinson are now forever linked as AFC East rivals for at least the next four seasons. The two will have a chance to rekindle their Penn State rivalry as many as twice per year, facing off as opponents after sharing a goal of hearing their names called during April’s draft festivities.