The New York Jets are heading into the 2025 NFL Draft with one goal in mind: solidifying the future. With the 7 overall pick, speculation has been all over the place—some see them targeting a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, while others believe they could bolster their offensive skill positions with a top-tier TE like Tyler Warren. But the most common trend among mock drafts? The Jets doubling down on the trenches. With new head coach Aaron Glenn—a defensive mastermind who watched the Detroit Lions build through the trenches—the focus has clearly shifted to winning in the most brutal, unforgiving part of the game. And with the quarterback position seemingly locked up, there’s a growing belief that Gang Green is set to invest heavily in their O-line.

That belief has led many analysts to a singular name: Armand Membou. The Missouri Tigers tackle is starting to gain serious traction as the Jets’ most likely pick at No. 7, with the PFF College Football Show making the case for him in their latest mock draft. “I think that New York could be really interested in Armand Membou with the number 8-7 overall pick,” the analyst said. “Jets now at number 7 overall. I’m going to go with Armand Membou, the tackle out of Missouri. I think he slots in perfectly at right tackle for the Jets.” The logic is sound—Membou has the size, strength, and movement skills to be an immediate plug-and-play starter at the next level. And while the Jets already invested in their left tackle spot last year, they still need a long-term answer at right tackle. Membou checks every box.

It’s not just about positional fit; it’s about the attitude he brings. The PFF analyst continued, “I know they took Older Fashioned last year, but he’s kind of a left tackle in the future. I think Membou is a guy that’s going to be really interested in, you know, filling in the right tackle spot for them, and all of a sudden you have a starting five offensive line that is nasty.” That’s the kind of edge the Jets need—especially if they want to give their new quarterback every possible chance to succeed. The AFC East is loaded with elite pass rushers, and having a bookend tackle who can hold his own in one-on-one situations could be the difference between survival and disaster in 2025. Armand Membou isn’t just a safe pick—he might be the smartest pick the Jets can make.

Even ESPN’s Matt Miller has come to the same conclusion. In his latest mock draft, Miller sent the 6’4”, 314-pound Mizzou beast straight to New York, pointing out how critical it is for the Jets to keep their new quarterback upright. “After signing quarterback Justin Fields in free agency, the Jets need to give him protection following the departure of right tackle Morgan Moses,” Miller wrote. “He’s a little raw in pass protection but has the quickness and awareness to prevent pass rushers from consistently penetrating the backfield.”

That’s high praise for a player who, despite his youth, already has the kind of resume that NFL teams dream about—over 2,100 career snaps and only three sacks allowed at the collegiate level. Armand Membou isn’t just a project with upside; he’s a rock-solid investment with a proven track record. And if there were any doubts about the Jets’ commitment to their QB situation, general manager Darren Mougey erased them at the league meeting. “We believe Justin is the starter,” Mougey stated, putting an exclamation point on what had already been heavily rumored. “We believe in Justin. We believe we can win with Justin, so we’re excited about Justin.”

The team didn’t just hand Justin Fields a contract—they handed him $30 million guaranteed over two years. That’s not the kind of money you give to a placeholder. That’s a statement of intent. Fields is their guy, and now it’s about giving him the best possible environment to succeed. That’s where Membou comes in. The Jets have already taken a huge swing at fixing their quarterback position, but no signal-caller thrives without protection. That’s what drew the praise of his coach, Eli Drinkwitz.

Why Armand Membou might be the steal of the NFL draft

The Lee’s Summit native was a force at Missouri last season, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors while locking down the right tackle spot for 12 games. Now, as he prepares for the NFL, his former coach, Eli Drinkwitz, is making it crystal clear—Membou is the real deal.

During a recent appearance on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, Drinkwitz couldn’t stop raving about his former lineman. “I was trying to get him to come back [to Missouri] cause I thought he could be the first overall pick next season,” he said. “He believed in himself and said he’s going to go prove that he can play tackle in the NFL.”

That belief is backed up by some serious numbers. Membou has only given up three sacks in 2,100 snaps—which is borderline ridiculous for a lineman. “If you’re a team that has a franchise quarterback, the best friend of a franchise quarterback is a solid left tackle or right tackle,” Drinkwitz emphasized.

For any team in the Top 10 looking to protect their QB, Membou is a no-brainer. As Drinkwitz put it, “If your quarterback has been getting hit a ton, you’d be absolutely crazy to not take Membou.” Now this one sounds like an early-round steal NFL teams can’t risk missing.