#Disruptive Folorunso Fatukasi looking like a rarity for Jets

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“#Disruptive Folorunso Fatukasi looking like a rarity for Jets”

July 3, 2020 | 9:22am | Updated July 3, 2020 | 9:27am

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am examining the roster and giving you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.

No. 16: Folorunso Fatukasi

Last year’s ranking: Unranked

Position: DT

Age on Opening Day: 25

How acquired: Selected in the sixth round of the 2018 Draft

Years left on contract: 2

2020 Salary Cap figure: $793,564

Looking back at 2019

Fatukasi was one of the biggest surprises of last season for the Jets. He barely played as a rookie and was a question about whether he would even make the team entering training camp.

But Fatukasi looked like a different player in camp and won over the new coaching staff. Then, he produced when he played during the season. Fatukasi ended up playing in 14 games. He had 27 tackles, one sack, three quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss. Only four players on the Jets had more TFLs. He had 15 stops, per PFF. Stops are plays that constitute a failure for the offense.

Fatukasi played 35 percent of the snaps as part of Gregg Williams’ defensive line rotation.

foley fatukasi jets outlook 2020 steve mclendon — Foloruso “Foley” FatukasiBill Kostroun

The best play of Fatukasi’s season came against the Dolphins in Miami. Near the goal line, Fatukasi overpowered the center, driving him into the running back for a loss. It showed Fatukasi’s strength and his ability to be disruptive.

PFF loved Fatukasi. The stats-driven site graded him as the 10th best interior lineman out of 118. He was fifth against the run out of 119.

Outlook for 2020

If Fatukasi can improve as much between Year 2 and Year 3 as he did between Year 1 and Year 2, he will be a huge part of the Jets defense this year.

Steve McLendon is still in front of Fatukasi as the team’s nose tackle/interior tackle but Fatukasi should cut into McLendon’s playing time more this season.

Fatukasi looks like something that has been a rarity for the Jets – a late-round pick that pans out. The Jets were No. 2 against the run last year and Fatukasi was a big part of that. The Jets will be hoping to duplicate that kind of success on defense and the expectations for Fatukasi will be higher entering this year.

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