An abysmal 5-12 season in 2024 landed the New York Jets the seventh-overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, and they used that selection on Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou.
With starting left tackle Tyron Smith announcing his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons, and starting right tackle Morgan Moses inking a three-year, $24 million deal with the New England Patriots, the need was obvious, and it wasn't a surprise that the Jets took the opportunity to fill it with one of the top tackles in the class.
Membou, 21, spent the last three seasons holding down the right tackle spot for the Missouri Tigers, earning All-SEC honors in 2024 and helping his line earn recognition as semifinalists for the Joe Moore award in 2023.
Now that he's in the NFL, many believe Membou will make a positive impact for New York right away, including ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
"Armand Membou will establish himself as a premier right tackle early," Fowler wrote on Friday. "Membou has the traits and the demeanor to solidify the Jets' line. A few scouts I trust have compared his length and play style to a young Jason Peters."
Peters was one of the league's best tackles for a long time, making nine Pro Bowls and six All-Pro teams over 21 seasons, so New York would be thrilled if that's the type of career Membou has with them.
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The Jets used a 2024 first-round pick on offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who played three different spots last year after playing 1,284 of his 1,285 snaps at left tackle for the Penn State Nittany Lions in college.
Having Fashanu on the left, Membou on the right and John Simpson, Joe Tippmann and Alijah Vera-Tucker in the middle should give Justin Fields the protection he needs to be a successful quarterback in his first season in New York.
They should also help Breece Hall be more impactful in 2025 after the running back had his least efficient season of his three (averaging 4.2 yards per carry).
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