FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The 2025 NFL draft began Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the New York Jets started with eight of the draft's 257 picks, beginning with the No. 7 selection of the first round. Below is analysis for all of the Jets' picks in the three-day event.
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 7 overall: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
My take: The Jets' new regime resisted the urge to pick tight end Tyler Warren, opting for the meat-and-potatoes choice. Smart decision. Membou is the final piece in an offensive line puzzle that started to take shape in 2021. Warren would've been the glitzy choice, but Membou solidifies a gaping hole. First-year coach Aaron Glenn is trying to recreate the offense from the previous team, the Detroit Lions -- strong in the trenches. Glenn said Membou's mentality and demeanor are "exactly the same" as Lions All-Pro Penei Sewell. "That's what attracted me to [Membou], first and foremost," said Glenn, adding that his mission is to build the team from the inside out.
Will he start as a rookie? Yes, he'd better. This can't be a repeat of last year, when Fashanu began the season on the bench. Membou has a clear path to the right tackle job. The in-house competition isn't stellar -- Chukwuma Okorafor, Max Mitchell and Carter Warren. Membou is a natural right tackle -- 94% of his snaps at Missouri occurred there - so there shouldn't be a steep learning curve.
Key stats: Membou surrendered one sack in 391 pass-blocking plays during the 2024 season, according to ESPN Research. That came in October against Auburn early in the first quarter. Membou, in a call with New York reporters, disputed the validity of the stat, saying, "I didn't give up any sacks." Membou increased his profile with a dazzling 40-yard dash at the scouting combine - 4.91 seconds. Previously, only four players 330 pounds or heavier broke 5.0 since 2003 -- OT Jason Peters (2004), DT Dontari Poe (2012), OT Greg Robinson (2014) and DT Jordan Davis (2022).
Round 2, No. 42 overall: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
My take: The Jets needed to come out of this draft with a starting-caliber tight end, and Taylor certainly checks the box. They had their choice of Taylor and Miami's Elijah Arroyo, opting for Taylor because they feel he has the potential to be a complete tight end, not just a receiver. Taylor was a three-year starter for LSU and finished his career with 129 receptions for 1,308 yards -- both school records for a tight end. He was a steady player but never dominant. His single-game high was only 63 yards, and he wasn't dynamic after the catch. He should compete for immediate playing time in a tight end room led by Jeremy Ruckert.
Ties to the team: Taylor is the son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who played for the Jets in 2010. Mason, only 6 at the time, lived in Manhattan and remembers playing ball with his dad in Central Park. His dad, of course, is synonymous with the Dolphins, a Jets rival. For most of his career, Jason was loathed by Jets fans. And now he will be one of them, rooting for his son. Mason's uncle is former Dolphins great Zach Thomas, another Hall of Famer.
Round 3, No. 73: Azareye'h Thomas, CB, Florida State
My take: Call this a mild surprise. Cornerback is one of the Jets' strongest positions, but they felt the value was too good to pass up. This has Glenn's fingerprints all over it. At 6-2, Thomas has the length that Glenn covets in his corners. He showed decent ball skills over his career at Florida State, recording 15 passes defensed over his last two seasons -- but only one interception. With Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens and Michael Carter II ahead of him, Thomas' quickest path to the game day roster is to be the CB4 and to carve out a niche on special teams.
Key stat: Thomas' 40-yard dash time is pedestrian -- 4.58 seconds. The lack of catch-up speed is notable, but Glenn said he's not concerned. He looks at game speed, not stopwatch speed -- and he believes Thomas has enough of the former. Glenn noted that Thomas is physical and disruptive at the line of scrimmage, using a two-handed punch -- a rarity among corners, according to Glenn, a former corner. "I'm going to smother you, and I'm going to lock down my side of the field," Thomas said.
Round 4, No. 110: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
My take: Smith is a track athlete with big-time speed (4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash). The Jets' receiving corps needed a jolt of speed. This should send a message to Malachi Corley, their disappointing 2024 third-round pick. The concern with Smith, who led the Bulldogs with 817 receiving yards (a lot on screens), is his long injury history. He's had a fractured wrist, a torn meniscus in his knee, a broken fibula and a high-ankle sprain, all of which resulted in three surgeries. He also had some killer drops. This is a risky bet for the Jets.
Round 4, No. 130: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
My take: Darren Mougey made his first trade as general manager, moving up 15 spots to grab Moore, a versatile four-year starter and two-time captain. They dealt their fifth-round pick (145) and a sixth-rounder (207) to the Eagles. Can he be Glenn's new version of Brian Branch? Moore played the nickel ("star") position for four years before switching to safety. He made the change on the advice of former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban, who felt it would improve his pro stock. Moore finished his career with seven interceptions and 31 passes defensed. He doesn't have great size (5-foot-11, 197 pounds) or speed (4.57 in the 40), but he is tough and instinctive. This was a need for the Jets, who have Andre Cisco, Tony Adams and Isaiah Oliver (nickel) at safety. Cisco is a lock to start. After him, it's wide open.
Round 5, No. 162 (from Los Angles Rams through Pittsburgh): Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Miami
My take: The Jets needed to build up their linebacker depth, especially in the middle. Mauigoa, who goes by "Kiko," wore the green dot at Miami and will compete to back up Jamien Sherwood at the "Mike" position. He has good size (6-2, 233) and runs reasonably well (4.60 in the 40). He led the Hurricanes in tackles in each of the last two season, including 29 tackles for loss in 26 starts. Born and raised in American Samoa, he played two years at Washington State before transferring to Miami. He has played a lot of special teams, which is where he will have to earn his keep. The Jets acquired this pick from the Steelers in the 2024 Mike Williams trade.
Round 6, No. 186: Tyler Baron, DE, Miami
My take The Jets wanted Baron so much that they traded up 10 spots, sending a sixth rounder (186) and a 2026 fifth-round choice to the Ravens for this pick and a 2026 sixth rounder. They evidently were desperate to add an edge player, a thin position on the depth chart. He should compete for the DE4 or DE5 position. Baron, a Tennessee transfer, recorded 5.5 sacks last season (three came against FCS teams). He has good size (6-5, 258), but needs to be more disciplined. He was a big-time recruit for Tennessee, producing a career-high six sacks in 2023. At Miami, he learned from assistant coach Jason Taylor, whose son, Mason, was drafted by the Jets in Round 2.