The 2022 draft class has been considered one of the more successful for the New York Jets in team history. Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, and Jermaine Johnson all came from that year, and all have been integral parts for the franchise.

Four years later, another draft class in New York seems to be wildly successful — even if it lacks the same firepower and stardom as the previous one.

The Jets’ 2025 draft class was never supposed to see the field as much as they have. Many of their Day Three selections were expected to be prospects with plenty of work to go through.

Injuries and quality play, though, have thrust the group into the spotlight.

And they have mostly been a resounding success.

Glenn, Jets pleased with 2025 class

From seventh overall pick Armand Membou to fourth-round steal Malachi Moore, to even the unlikely heroes like linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, the Jets have seen quality play from almost every member of their rookie class.

And that has even surprised head coach Aaron Glenn.

“A lot of these guys, man, you would want them to progress and learn and get the right reps to be able to get better, and most of those reps you want them to be in
practice,” Glenn said on Friday. “But, for some odd reason, all of those guys had to play a key cog into what we’re doing.”

Almost every Jets rookie has had their moment to shine. Membou currently ranks 25th among all tackles in the game by Pro Football Focus, tight end Mason Taylor is second on the team in receiving yards and catches, cornerback AZ Thomas is about to get his first start of the season on Sunday, safety Malachi Moore has improved with more reps, and Mauigoa has been a quality backup to Quincy Williams.

The Jets may still be waiting for wide receiver Arian Smith and edge rusher Tyler Baron to make positive impacts, but for a team to have five impact players from one draft class is an excellent start for their new front office.

Glenn’s plan for the rookie class is also the right move forward – giving them the opportunity to make mistakes, but learn from them as they grow.

“We’re excited about those guys getting the reps in,” Glenn explained. “They’re still learning, they’re going to make mistakes, and we know that. But again, we’re going to own those mistakes, we’re going to improve, and we’re going to keep going.”

Patience is key

As with any draft class, it is always impossible to determine how good a group is going to be during its first year. Things change in the NFL all the time and a good class can turn into a bad one very quickly.

That’s why Jets fans, already frustrated over the team’s lack of wins, need to be patient with the 2025 class. They do not have the same star power as the 2022 group had, but they have made a positive first impression to their NFL journeys.

Instead of demanding more, it’s important to allow the group to continue to grow over the next few years.