After kicking off the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Missouri tackle Armand Membou at No. 7 overall, the Jets kept up the momentum Friday night, adding LSU tight end Mason Taylor (Round 2, No. 43) and Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas (Round 3, No. 72).
“The night went really well,” GM Darren Mougey said. “It unfolded pretty much how we expected. We started with Mason Taylor, a tight end we had our eye on for a while. We think he can come in and immediately contribute — young, athletic, great ball skills, instinctive, versatile. Then we added AZ Thomas, another long, athletic, physical corner. He’s young, still developing, but he’ll bring valuable depth at a premium position. We stuck to our board and feel great about it.”
On Thursday, the Jets prioritized their offensive line by selecting Membou, an elite prospect with arguably the highest upside among linemen in this draft class. They passed on tight ends Colston Loveland (picked by Chicago at No. 10) and Tyler Warren (No. 14) but showed patience — eventually landing the most productive tight end in LSU history.
Taylor (6-5, 246 pounds), son of Hall of Fame pass rusher Jason Taylor, had a breakout season in 2024, recording 55 receptions for 546 yards. He now joins a Jets tight end room that includes Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt.
“When the game’s on the line, I want to be that guy who steps up — on third down, in must-score situations,” Taylor said. “I pride myself on being a complete, every-down tight end — reliable in both the pass and run game. I’m excited to show Jets fans what I can do.”
In the third round, the Jets shifted to the defensive side of the ball, drafting Thomas, a 6’1″, 196-pound cornerback with an impressive 78-inch wingspan. He was clocked at 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his pro day and finished his college career at Florida State with 95 tackles, 17 passes defensed, and 8 tackles for loss across 37 games.
“Football is football — and he plays the brand we want to play,” said head coach Aaron Glenn. “He’s a big, physical player, and I’m looking forward to seeing him bring that style to our defense.”
Membou, meanwhile, projects as a long-term anchor on the Jets’ offensive line. The 6’4″, 332-pound tackle started 25 straight games at right tackle for Missouri and is known for his explosive athleticism and physical style.
“I’m a firm believer you build a team inside out,” Glenn said on Thursday night.
Next season, the Jets’ projected offensive line from left to right could feature Olu Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Membou. Fashanu, last year’s No. 11 overall pick, and Membou are expected to serve as the team’s bookend tackles for years to come — the highest-rated pair the Jets have had since D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s era.
“We’ve got our left tackle, we’ve got our right tackle, we’ve got our guards,” Glenn said. “Every skill player on offense is excited because of what we’ve built up front. Building inside out — that’s the foundation of what we’re doing.”
Heading into Saturday’s final rounds, the Jets hold five picks: one in Round 4 (No. 110 overall) and two each in Rounds 5 (Nos. 145 and 162) and 6 (Nos. 186 and 207). After that, the team will shift focus to undrafted free agency.
“We feel really good about the way things have unfolded and the players we’ve added,” Mougey said. “We’re excited to keep building tomorrow.”
