Jets’ George Fant had top pass-blocking grade in PFF era

The New York Jets have an important decision to make on their offensive line.

It’s a revamped unit with plenty of optimism attached to it. But at tackle, things are far from settled at this point. Who will play where?

Mekhi Becton is fresh off a poor, injury-riddled season. That gave an opportunity to George Fant and he took advantage of it.

Fant had a career-best campaign in 2021 after Becton left the lineup. In doing so, Fant moved from right to left tackle.

Now what do the Jets do moving forward? Head coach Robert Saleh declined an opportunity to reveal the team’s plan to this point, but we’ll see once training camp rolls around.

Helping explain how tough a decision this might be is a revelation from Pro Football Focus. The football analytics outlet has been around since 2006. Since they started keeping track of their numbers, Fant’s efforts last season was the lowest pressure rate any Jets offensive lineman has ever allowed.

So… Fant or the former top-overall pick? A difficult choice.

Here’s PFF’s top-five lowest pressure rates allowed by a Jets player, with Fant leading the way:

Lowest allowed pressure rates in a season by a Jets OT since 2006

1️⃣ George Fant (’21): 3.2%
2️⃣ Damien Woody (’08): 3.6%
3️⃣ Damien Woody (’09): 3.9%
4️⃣ D’Brickshaw Ferguson (’08): 4.1%
5️⃣ D’Brickshaw Ferguson (’09): 4.3% pic.twitter.com/S9SyFwSX2F

— PFF NY Jets (@PFF_Jets) June 24, 2022