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For the second year in a row, the Jets picked an offensive tackle with parents from Africa.
Last year, they went with Penn State’s Olu Fashanu whose parents are from Nigeria, and this year it was Missouri’s Armand Membou, whose parents are from Cameroon.
Aside from being really good prospects, they have amazing parents, strict parents, different sensibilities coming from a different part of the world, who raised two amazing young men who are wired the right way. This can’t be minimized.
They were reportingly mulling Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, but ultimately they couldn’t pass up on Membou, who gives them a bookend tackle with Fashanu.
And Membou isn’t a projection pick. He’s being picked to play the position he played at Missouri – right tackle, a position he started the last three years at Missouri. So he’s plug and play.
Some would argue he’s built more like a guard, and while the Jets intend on playing him at right tackle, if for some reason it doesn’t work out at tackle, which I’m not predicting at all, but they can always move him to guard.
Hey, this theory also applies to the New England Patriots’ first-round pick, Will Campbell, who was picked fourth overall.
Campbell was obviously picked to play tackle, but former Jets GM Joe Douglas said on Fox Sports Radio he might be a better fit at guard. Lavar Arrington on the same broadcast said this same thing. Will Campbell’s arm length, at around 33 inches, is a concern.
Membou’s arm length is 33 1/2’’ – longer than Campbell, but perhaps not ideal.
Membou ran a 4.91 forty, which is outstanding for an offensive tackle, especially one who weighs 330 pounds.
Membou entered the draft after his junior year. He is only 21.
“I was trying to get him to come back [to Missouri] cause I thought he could be the first overall pick next season,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said to Kay Adams on her show ‘Up and Adams.’ “He believed in himself and said he’s going to go prove that he can play tackle in the NFL. We all knew he was going to test unbelievable at the combine. When you watch the tape, he’s got rare athleticism and raw strength, he can play both guard and tackle, I believe he’ll play early.
“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 that you know can block anybody in the NFL. Armand has given up only three sacks in 2100 snaps. If you’re in the Top 10 and you have a franchise quarterback, I think you’d be absolutely crazy, if you’re quarterback has been getting hit a ton, to not take Membou.”
Jets QB last year, Aaron Rodgers, got hit a lot last year.
If the Jets don’t have a good offensive line this year, with Justin Fields at QB, they have no shot at having good offense. He needs time. He’s not the quickest decision maker. But if you give him time, he can make all the throws as a see and throw passer.
Aaron Glenn believes in building from the inside out, and this pick proves it.
April 24, 2025
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