Final yr, the Jets added to their offensive line by choosing deal with Olu Fashanu eleventh total within the NFL Draft.
Historical past has repeated itself as Gang Inexperienced once more selected an offensive lineman within the first spherical.
At decide No. 7, the Jets chosen Missouri deal with Armand Membou, who is anticipated to be the staff’s proper deal with of the longer term. He’s the primary draft decide within the Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey period, following their hiring as coach and normal supervisor.
Membou can be the fourth offensive lineman the Jets have chosen within the first spherical since 2020 (Mekhi Becton, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Fashanu).
“I had a feeling this was going to be my home,” Membou stated throughout his media availability on Thursday evening. “When I woke up today, something told me I was going to be a Jet.”
The son of Cameroonian dad and mom, Membou didn’t play soccer till he reached highschool. Rising up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, he performed basketball, tennis, and soccer.
Nonetheless, that was a number of inches and kilos later, as Membou grew three inches and round 100 kilos throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. He additionally grew to become a dominant offensive lineman, which led him to remain residence and signal with the College of Missouri.
Throughout his three seasons for the Tigers, Membou allowed simply three sacks and 26 pressures in over 2,000 snaps at principally proper deal with. In 2024, he didn’t permit a single sack at Missouri.
Membou is a pure proper deal with, which led to varied opinions about him throughout this yr’s draft cycle, whether or not he ought to keep at that place or transfer inside to protect. He’s athletically gifted as Membou explodes off the road of scrimmage and makes use of his energy and palms to realize a bonus towards move rushers.
At Missouri, Membou performed in a zone-blocking scheme the place he might dump defenders on the bottom on the second and third ranges. Though he had a wonderful profession for the Tigers, Membou struggled towards sure velocity rushers, together with these from Alabama.
Nonetheless, Membou can be a genetic freak of an athlete. He ran a 4.91 40-yard sprint throughout February’s NFL Mix and in addition had a 34-inch vertical soar. He is a promising younger prospect with a robust body and a excessive ceiling to develop into one of many higher proper tackles within the NFL.
“They are getting a mauler,” Membou stated. “A mauler in the run game and in pass pro [protection], someone very consistent. “I’m going to make sure to keep my quarterback clean.”
The Jets have a obvious want at proper deal with after Morgan Moses left in free company to signal with the rival Patriots. Nonetheless, the Jets now have their bookend tackles for the foreseeable future in Fashanu and Membou, who will be a part of an offensive line that additionally consists of left guard John Simpson, middle Joe Tippmann, and proper guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
“I think the Jets O-Line got a good, young foundation,” Membou stated. “Adding me to it, the work I’m going to put in this organization, we can be very good up front in the trenches.”
After years of the offensive line being one of many staff’s weaknesses, the Jets’ unit was strong the earlier season. They allowed 40 sacks, tied with the Buccaneers for seventeenth within the NFL.
Nonetheless, this can be a completely different Jets regime than final season after the staff fired each coach Robert Saleh and normal supervisor Joe Douglas amidst a 5-12 marketing campaign. The Jets additionally moved on from offensive line coach Keith Carter.
Since then, Glenn and Mougey have made a number of modifications to the Jets’ roster, together with releasing Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams.
Now that the offensive line seems to be set, that can assist quarterback Justin Fields, who signed a two-year, $40 million contract in March. With Fields’ mobility, the Jets are anticipated to lean closely on working the ball.
“I’m a mauler, so s–t, whatever they need me to do, it don’t matter,” Membou stated in regards to the Jets probably working the ball so much subsequent yr. “Just put them behind me.”
Initially Printed: April 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM EDT
