Leading up the NFL Draft, NewYorkJets.com will use NFL Draft analyst comments to "Make Your Case" on why certain draft prospects would be a good fit for the team.
The Jets, at present, hold eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, including the No. 7 overall selection. The first round will take place April 24 in Green Bay at 8 p.m. EDT. Day 2 will be on April 25 and Day 3 on April 26.
Today's Player: Missouri RT Armand Membou
Background/Profile
Armand Membou (6-4, 332) was a three-year starter at right tackle for Missouri in the Tigers' RPO-heavy offensive scheme. Membou, whose family immigrated to the US from French-speaking Cameroon, grew up in Lee's Summit, MO, a Kansas City suburb, and displayed the agility and athleticism needed to play multiple sports (football, soccer, tennis and wrestling). He became a starter as a freshman and earned All-SEC honors this past season.
"He tested very, very well," said NFL.com draft analyst Brian Baldinger. "He's very athletic, and he's got great size. You know? He's over 6-3, 330 pounds. He played in the SEC going up against elite competition. I just don't think physically, he's there yet. He might have a higher ceiling because of his athletic ability, and if he gets stronger, especially at the point of attack, I think he could become an elite player. I don't think he is that guy yet."
Membou, 21, didn't allow any sacks or QB hits in 411 pass-blocking snaps last season, and graded out well as a run blocker. He is noted for his above-average pass-blocking ability, good balance and quickness. Some analysts have compared him to Steelers' tackle Troy Fautanu, the 2023 Morris Trophy winner. Membou has the potential to be a long-term answer on a Jets' offensive line that has struggled with continuity the past few seasons.
"Membou is a guy that I think he's going to play in this league for a long time," Baldinger said.
Check out photos of the top 2025 NFL Draft prospects that were mocked to the Jets at No. 7 by various national news outlets over the past few months.
LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell has been one of the most mocked players to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by ESPN's Mike Tannenbaum.
Michigan DL Mason Graham has been one of the most popular players projected to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by NFL.com Eric Edholm.
Missouri OT Armand Membou has gained recent popularity being mocked players to the Jets with the No. 7 pick, most recently by ESPN's Field Yates.
Michigan defensive back Will Johnson was mocked to the Jets at No. 7 early in the offseason, recently by The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner.
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren was mocked to the Jets recently by CBS Sports' Chris Trapasso and ESPN's Mel Kiper.
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter has been a favorite projection to the Jets by Pro Football Focus, most recently mocked by John Kosko to the Jets.
Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has been selected by the Jets in Nick Baumgardner's most recent mock.
Georgia defensive lineman Mykel Williams was mocked to the Jets early in the draft season by NFL.com's Chad Reuter.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward was mocked to the Green & White by FOX Sports' Joel Klatt among others.
Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart was projected to the Jets by The Athletic's Mike Sando.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was forecasted to the Jets by ESPN's Mel Kiper.
Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker was mocked to the Jets in the first round by NFL.com's Dan Parr.
Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was projected to the Jets by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
The Fit
When it comes to the offensive line, GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn have to be encouraged because the Jets are returning with four starters -- LT Olu Fashanu, LG John Simpson, C Joe Tippmann and RG Alijah Vera-Tucker. Adding a first-round pick at RT, especially one like Membou who has excelled in a RPO-type offense the Jets could use featuring QB Justin Fields, could be significant. With Membou positioned to slot in as a starter, all five O-line starters would be younger than 30 years old.
In addition, moves in free agency (Josh Myers and Chukwuma Okorafor), holdovers from previous drafts (Carter Warren, Max Mitchell), plus potential selection in the draft's later rounds could set up the Green & White for solid play at a crucial position.
Where He's Projected in Mock Drafts
NFL.com: No. 9 (New Orleans)
PFF: No. 7 (Jets)
CBS Sports: No. 7 (Jets)
ESPN: No. 7 (Jets)
See NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah's top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
No. 1 Abdul Carter, Penn State DE
No. 2 Travis Hunter, Colorado WR
No. 3 Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB
No. 4 Mason Graham, Michigan DT
No. 6 Jalon Walker, Georgia Edge
No. 5 Tyler Warren, Penn State TE
No. 7 Colston Loveland, Michigan TE
No. 10 Cam Ward, Miami QB
No. 13 Jihaad Campbell, Alabama LB
No. 8 Will Campbell, LSU OT
No. 9 Jahdae Barron, Texas CB
No. 17 Armand Membou, Missouri IOL
North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton (28) runs past Wake Forest linebacker Aiden Hall and defensive back C'Darius Kelley (10) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
No. 12 Will Johnson, Michigan CB
No. 21 Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina S
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden (2) makes the catch against Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney II (1) during the first half in the quarterfinals of a College Football Playoff, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
No. 25 Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State WR
No. 15 Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona WR
No. 11 Shedeur Sanders, Colorado QB
No. 14 Tyler Booker, Alabama IOL
No. 23 Mike Green, Marshall Edge
No. 16 Mykel Williams, Georgia Edge
No. 22 Derrick Harmon, Oregon DT
No. 48 Grey Zabel, North Dakota State IOL
No. 28 Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Edge
No. 20 James Pearce Jr., Tennessee Edge
No. 27 Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M Edge
No. 26 Walter Nolen, Ole Miss DT
No. 33 Malaki Starks, Georgia S
No. 18 Kenneth Grant, Michigan DT
No. 19 Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas OT
No. 35 Mason Taylor, LSU TE
No. 32 Luther Burden III, Missouri WR
No. 36 TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State RB
No. 44 Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky CB
No. 41 Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss QB
No. 30 Josh Simmons, Ohio State OT
No. 34 Quishon Judkins, Ohio State RB
No. 38 Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon OT
No. 45 Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame CB
No. 31 Donovan Jackson, Ohio State IOL
No. 49 Elijah Arroyo, Miami (FL) TE
No. 37 Carson Schwesinger, UCLA LB
No. 47 Marcus Mbow, Purdue OT
Texas A&M's Nic Scourton (11) warms up prior to an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
No. 43 CB Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State CB
Other Players in the Field
LSU Will Campbell is likely to be among the first OL off the board on Day 1, possibly among the first five selections. Depending how the rest of the first round shakes out (a mock draft on ESPN.com has Kevin Banks Jr., Josh Conerly, Jr., and Josh Simmons all going later on Day 1), the Jets could have viable options on Day 2 (picks No. 42 and No. 73 overall) and Day 3.
Baldinger mentioned Minnesota's Aireontae Ersery (6-6, 331) who, like Membou acquitted himself well against top competition in the Big Ten and a potential Day 3 pick in Purdue's Corey Stewart (6-5, 314) and perhaps LSU's powerful Emery Jones (6-5, 315).
"I really want to take the best player, because I think you can still find and develop offensive tackles in this league in the third and fourth round, or offensive guards, because I think they have some flexibility," Baldinger said.
He added: "A lot of right tackles in this league, that's where they get taken [in later rounds]. They get taken in the second round, and because they don't have the elite traits to make them a first-round pick, [they're] still going to be a good player."
