The New York Jets entered the 2025 NFL draft with the seventh-overall pick in hand following a rough 2024 season. New general manager Darryl Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn decided to stay with that pick and select Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou.
New York started Tyron Smith at left tackle and Morgan Moses at right tackle in 2024. This offseason, Smith announced his retirement from professional football, and Moses signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the New England Patriots.
This created a need at tackle, and with 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu likely sliding in on the left side, the right side may belong to Membou in his rookie season.
The 21-year-old spent the last three seasons with the Tigers, and he played in 35 games and started 29 at right tackle. This past year, he earned a 90.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and Second-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press.
What are the Jets getting in Membou? Here's what the experts were saying prior to New York making the pick Thursday night.
JETS WILL CAMPBELL PRE-DRAFT SCOUTING REPORTS
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
"Young, talented prospect whose lack of NFL-tackle size will test teams’ willingness to make exceptions to their standards. Membou plays with composed quickness and elite body control. He delivers good pop on contact and has the range to spring runs with blocks in space. Footwork and core strength fuel stick-block sustain, but he can be outreached by edge-setters. His pass sets are technically sound, and he processes twists and blitzes quickly. Membou plays with a varied pass-set strategy and crafty hands to stymie rush momentum, but teams will have to live with long-armed rushers collapsing the pocket on him at times. Hands and feet work in unison to mirror speed and edge-to-edge rush challenges. He’s still growing into his frame but his game boasts unusual maturity. Membou’s potential impact at a premium position should keep him at tackle, but he has outstanding potential regardless."
Charles McDonald, Yahoo! Sports:
"Armand Membou checks off so many boxes for a franchise tackle prospect. Athletic, strong, plays with good leverage and technique — there really aren’t many holes in his game and he still has more upside to tap into.
For someone who weighs over 330 pounds, Membou carries his weight very well and his ability to be an enforcer on the second level of the defense is rare. He may end up being one of the best players in the class when all is said and done.
This is a Day 1 starting offensive tackle with the room to grow into an All-Pro."
"Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Armand Membou is a powerful presence in the trenches and has the potential to be a starting talent at tackle or guard. Membou is a multi-year starter at right tackle in the SEC and handled the rigors plenty well.
He possesses a punishing, powerful demeanor in the run game. Membou has enough foot speed and length to play on the perimeter in the right scheme, and his anchor is stout when he’s sitting up on his hips. But his floor and ceiling will likely be higher on the interior, where the fringes of his blocking radius will be insulated, and he’ll be less stressed with speed off the edge.
He’s capable of tremendous leg drive, a heavy punch, and the ability to create and sustain displacement at the point of attack, making him a legit asset from the jump in the run game. Membou’s NFL home is fluid and ultimately may depend on scheme and team fit. "
RELATED: NFL Draft trades tracker 2025: Full details on every deal to move up, down in Rounds 1-3
MORE JETS NEWS
Watch 4 minutes of Jets draft pick Armand Membou mauling defenders in college
Jets 2025 NFL draft grades: How the Armand Membou pick was viewed by experts
Jets-Cowboys blockbuster trade pitch lands Dallas explosive $9 million running back
Kyle Pitts blockbuster trade pitch sends Falcons tight end to lowly AFC team
Aaron Rodgers details bizarre final meeting with Jets that left him frustrated