Sixteen games in, the New York Jets’ decision to select offensive tackle Armand Membou with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft is looking like the correct move.
The Missouri product remains a silver lining for the Jets in what has been a disappointing season. Membou has earned a 72.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking second-best among the seven rookie tackles to play at least 400 offensive snaps, trailing only Kelvin Banks Jr. of the Saints (73.7). It also ranks 16th-best among all right tackles.
The 21-year-old’s rapid ascension has caught the eye of his veteran teammates.
“He’s got everything that he needs to be great, truly,” Jets center Josh Myers said of Membou. “He’s got the strength, the athleticism, the smarts. He’s got everything he needs, and he’s going to be a really good football player and definitely a cornerstone of this organization.”
Having a sustained offensive line is one of the most valuable assets in today’s NFL. It is especially critical for a team like the Jets, who are expected to take a quarterback early in the 2026 draft.
The Jets’ offensive line has passed the eye test this season. While some metrics do not back that claim, the numbers are skewed by how long New York’s quarterbacks have held the ball, making the line look worse than it actually is.
For example, in Week 16 against the New Orleans Saints, Jets quarterback Brady Cook endured eight sacks; however, Pro Football Focus credited Gang Green’s offensive line for being at fault on only two of those. That is a very important distinction.
Jets fans should be excited about the future of the team’s offensive line, and Membou is at the center of the unit’s ascension. General manager Darren Mougey’s first draft pick has looked every bit of a long-term answer at right tackle in the Big Apple.