Almost all recent mock drafts have the Jets selecting either Missouri T Armand Membou or Penn State TE Tyler Warren with the No. 7 overall pick. When asked the age-old question about playmakers vs. protection, NFL Network lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said general manager Darren Mougey is in a favorable position either way.
“Look, I think you’re going to be in a good spot there to get somebody that comes right in and makes an impact and starts,” Jeremiah said. “They could kind of put the finishing piece on the offensive line with someone like Membou, who would be comfortable just plugging right in at right tackle. All of a sudden, now what was an endless journey to fix the offensive line, you could almost say is pretty complete with him.”
Membou started the last three seasons at right tackle for the Tigers and earned All-SEC honors in the 2024 season. He finished his college career with 30 straight starts.
While he could certainly fill the void at right tackle left by Morgan Moses, who signed with the Patriots in the offseason, Jeremiah said he has a higher grade on a pair of pass catchers than Membou.
“If they want to stay best available and stay true to the board, I would take Tyler Warren, and I wouldn’t hesitate to take Colston Loveland either,” he said. “I think both those guys are worthy of being selected there.”
Warren, the 2024 Mackey Award winner out of Penn State, led the Big Ten with 104 receptions this past season and had 1,233 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns (8 receiving, 4 rushing). He also took 40 wildcat snaps for the Nittany Lions.
Loveland’s last year at Michigan was plagued by injuries and he was unable to participate in the NFL Combine and Pro Day. He’s considered more of a natural pass catcher compared to Warren even though Loveland’s career 1,466 receiving yards are fewer than Warren’s 1,839.
Warren, Jeremiah’s No. 6 overall prospect, and Loveland, No. 7 are graded higher than Membou, No. 12, but tackle may take precedent early in the draft for Jeremiah.
“I don’t think you’re going to love the tackle options that are going to be there at that point in time at pick No. 42,” he said. “I think [Josh] Simmons [Ohio State]is gone. I think [Josh] Conerly [Oregon] is gone. Now you start getting into like Ozzy Trapilo [Boston College] is maybe a starting right tackle. That’s probably a little bit early for him. Emery Jones is a possibility from LSU. You’ve got a big upside play and raw player Charles Grant from William & Mary, but I think he is more of a third-round guy who is going to take some time.
“If you are looking at trying to package the two [picks] together, I would like the tight ends I would be looking at in the second round more than I would like the tackles. That could inform their decision that they say, ‘Hey, let’s just solve the offensive line once and for all and be done with it,’ and you take Armand Membou, or if you take [Kelvin] Banks [Texas], one of those guys, now we’ve solved the offensive line. Now you’re looking at an [Elijah] Arroyo from Miami in the second round, which would be an upgrade over anybody they have in that position at tight end.”