The New York Jets have been in the process of trying to build a contender with Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey in charge, and while the Justin Fields experiment was a failure, some of the other moves have been great successes.
Trading both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams for a combined three first-round picks and a second-rounder, along with Adonai Mitchell, has been a boon for Mougey and the Jets.
But their best move came in the 2025 NFL Draft, when Armand Membou was selected 7th overall. Rich Cimini of ESPN gave Membou the Jets Rookie of the Year honor, and wrote that it was a "no-brainer." Membou was the perfect pick for the Jets.
Armand Membou has been perfect draft pick for Jets
"A no-brainer," Cimini writes, "The No. 7 pick has been terrific since Day 1. Among tackles, he ranks 12th in run block win rate and 21st in pass block win rate."
Membou isn't the flashiest player, since he isn't scoring touchdowns, getting stops on defense, or making big plays every week.
But he's a huge reason why the Jets offense can be functional at times, regardless of who's in at quarterback. Membou has been great, and arguably, was the perfect pick for the Jets.
Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets have two first-round picks and two second-round picks. With ample ammo, they can execute a trade-up for a franchise quarterback if needed.
A huge reason why the Jets could justify such an aggressive move-up and expensive transaction is thanks to Membou and second-year offensive tackle Olu Fashanu.
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Both linemen have anchored opposite sides of the line, and once a new quarterback joins the offense in 2026, they'll have great protection at both tackle spots.
Having strong weapons for a rookie quarterback is always at the forefront of fans' minds, but a strong offensive line is just as, if not more important.
Membou emerging as a top offensive tackle in the NFL in his rookie season is a massive boost for the Jets looking into the future.
He's been the perfect pick for the Jets, as securing both tackle spots will give the Jets a huge advantage once a new quarterback enters the offense.
Securing both tackle spots for years to come is huge for the Jets and will allow them to not only draft other positions with peace of mind but also spend big elsewhere.
A quarterback on a rookie contract is a big deal, but so are offensive tackles. And after the Membou selection, the Jets have two offensive tackles on rookie contracts. Add in a rookie quarterback contract, and the Jets could be a serious threat very quickly in the AFC.
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