With the 2025 NFL Draft nearly here, the debate is heating up on who the New York Jets should take at pick seven.
Assuming that they stay put at that pick as there is always a chance a team could move up or down in the first round. If the Jets stay at seven, they will have multiple options when they are on the clock but it feels like it really comes down to two prospects.
Right tackle Armand Membou out of Missouri, and tight end Tyler Warren out of Penn State. Going into the draft it seems like it’s going to come down to these two as a lot of experts have been weighing back and forth between these two players for the Jets. Of course other players like left tackles Will Campbell, and Kelvin Banks Jr. could be options but they are career left tackles that would need to make the transition to right tackle.
The Jets have two major needs on the offensive side, a right tackle, and a tight end. Unlike the previous two lineman I just listed, Membou is actually a right tackle.
Now there is a chance Membou is taken off the board before the Jets pick, he could be selected by New England, or Jacksonville who could certainly use offensive lineman help. In that case, Warren should safely be there at pick seven unless he shockingly gets picked before that. Warren should be the Jets selection as they could use another dynamic weapon for New York’s new Quarterback Justin Fields.
If Membou is there at seven well then it’s déjà vu all over again from last year. Should the Jets draft the potential starting tackle to boost their offensive line or draft the explosive dynamic weapon to add another playmaker to the team?
Last year of course, the Jets decided to draft Olu Fashanu over Brock Bowers. Bowers went on to have maybe the greatest rookie season from a tight end ever. Meanwhile, Fashanu went on to play 15 games for New York including starting seven of them. In which he had a good season and showed a lot of promise going forward that he can the franchise left tackle. So now we sit here a year later and the debate is the same for the Jets. Should they follow last year and take the cornerstone right tackle, or should they look to boost their playmakers this year.
On one hand, the Jets lost Morgan Moses who was their starting right tackle last season, and did not replace him in free agency. They are in need of a starting right tackle for sure. Membou would plug that spot in from day one. He is a three year starter who finished second all-SEC team last season. He is a little undersized for an NFL tackle but has good agility, athleticism, and hands to make up for it.
New York could have the ability to have both of their tackle positions set for the next decade if they were to pair Membou up with Fashanu, which is a huge deal. If you have your tackles lined up that is a huge advantage not only to your team but especially to whoever is the Quarterback.
On the other hand, New York is severely lacking in offensive talent at their skill positions. Outside of Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall they really have no formidable threats. They moved on from Davante Adams and Tyler Conklin this offseason. Leaving Allen Lazard as the number two wide receiver. Safe to say the Jets need to give Justin Fields more weapons. The tight end position is also an area where the Jets have lacked a real threat since the Dustin Keller days. They passed on Bowers, maybe they should look at that decision and decide not to pass up on Warren.
Warren is a 6-foot-6 first team All American who last year had over 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns. The year before that he had seven touchdowns proving to be a real red zone threat– another area the Jets have desperately lacked in for a decade.
The Jets can’t go wrong taking either guy, both positions are in need. Drafting the tackle gives them extra secured protection for Fields while Warren gives him another option to throw the ball too. In a fantasy world, New York would love to have both guys. Unfortunately this isn’t fantasy and they’ll need to choose one.
My gut tells me they will go for Membou to stack that line, and look to get skill players in the later rounds. Either way, there is no guarantee you will hit on the later round picks as the Jets are a franchise that have already struggled taking receivers in day two or beyond.
The flashy pick would be Warren, and he should be a very good NFL player. I think he would have big production for the Jets starting day one, and this team needs players that can produce.
Ultimately, I believe the Jets should do what my gut tells me they will do, and that’s draft Membou seventh overall. With the signing of Fields, and the backfield they have with Hall, and Braelon Allen. I believe the Jets are going to want to run the ball as much as possible.
They are going to want to just run the ball down the team’s throats, and so the pick of a right tackle just makes too much sense. They need a starter, and plus I think it is more likely to land a starting tight end, or wide receiver in the later rounds then it is to find a starting tackle.
Unlike last year, where I thought the Jets should have taken Bowers over Fashanu. This year I believe the right pick is taking Membou over Warren. As I stated if Membou isn’t available then I would take Warren unless you are in belief that you can transition Banks Jr. or Campbell from left to right tackle.
Another scenario for New York is trading down to gain more draft picks. Then selecting one of the wide receivers that are available like either Matthew Golden, Tetairoa McMillan, or Emeka Egbuka. Most likely though, I think New York stays at seven and should draft Membou to have their starting right tackle taken care of for the foreseeable future.
