The Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey era in New York is officially underway — and it started with a powerful statement. With their first pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Missouri right tackle Armand Membou at No. 7 overall Thursday night.
“It’s a huge relief and definitely a blessing,” Membou told newyorkjets.com’s Caroline Hendershot moments after receiving the call. Membou revealed that he woke up on draft day feeling it was meant to be: “I guess God told me. Plus, the Jets have such a young, promising team. I just felt it would be a great fit.”
The pick marks the second straight year the Jets invested a first-round selection in their offensive line, following the 2024 drafting of Penn State’s Olu Fashanu. With Membou now in the fold, the Jets are building an intimidating young foundation in front of new quarterback Justin Fields.
General manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn couldn’t hide their excitement over the selection.
“We feel fantastic about how the board played out,” Mougey said. “We loved Membou’s tape from the start. He’s physical, he’s athletic, he’s got a great personality, and when he visited us on his 21st birthday last month, it just felt right.”
Glenn, who’s bringing a physical, aggressive identity to the Jets, echoed that sentiment: “Athletically, he’s off the charts. He’s mean, tough, nasty — exactly the kind of player we want leading our offense. Once he was there at No. 7, it was a no-brainer.”
At 6’4″ and 332 pounds, Membou dominated during his time at Missouri, starting all 25 games the past two seasons. His 2024 campaign was especially impressive: no sacks or QB hits allowed across 411 pass-blocking snaps, earning him second-team All-SEC honors and a Senior Bowl invite.
Membou then put on a show at the NFL Combine, blazing through the 40-yard dash in 4.91 seconds — the fastest recorded by any offensive lineman over 6’4” and 330 pounds since 2003. His explosive athleticism was further confirmed with a 9’7″ broad jump and a 34-inch vertical, elite marks for a player his size.
“I’m not just fast,” Membou emphasized. “I’m strong, too. I can make any block on the field — I’m explosive and ready for anything.”
NFL.com’s Nick Shook praised Membou’s natural movement skills, noting that while teams have been burned by “Combine warriors” in the past, Membou’s game film matches his testing numbers. Draft analyst Brian Baldinger also projected a long, successful career ahead for the young lineman.
Membou will compete immediately for the Jets’ starting right tackle spot, joining a room featuring Fashanu, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Free-agent addition Chukwuma Okorafor, along with returning players Max Mitchell and Carter Warren, will also be part of the battle to protect Fields’ blind side.
Born to Cameroonian immigrant parents, Membou grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, excelling in four sports — football, soccer, wrestling, and tennis — before choosing football full-time at Lee’s Summit North High School.
Historically, Membou is the first player the Jets have ever selected with the No. 7 overall pick. He also becomes the 10th Missouri player drafted by the franchise, joining notable names like Sheldon Richardson (2013) and Brad Smith (2006).
Now, Membou is ready to carve out his own legacy in New York — one block, one snap, one victory at a time.
