Could the division-rival New England Patriots potentially ruin another draft night for the New York Jets? According to a new report, that is a real possibility.
According to ESPN’s Matt Miller, there is a “belief” around the league that Missouri tackle Armand Membou could be the first offensive lineman off the board and land in New England with the Patriots at No. 4 overall.
“I’ve heard talk that Missouri’s Armand Membou could be the first offensive lineman taken, before LSU’s Will Campbell. The right tackle prospect has received rave reviews from scouts because of his elite movement skills and power in the run game. There’s a belief that his agility could allow him to move to left tackle in the pros, which would put him in play for the Patriots at No. 4 overall,” wrote Miller.
Membou has vaulted into top-10 draft consideration after a jaw-dropping display at the NFL scouting combine. Tipping the scales at 331 pounds, Membou stunned scouts by running a 4.91-second 40-yard dash. He also recorded a 34-inch vertical and a 115-inch broad jump, numbers that helped him earn a 9.89 Relative Athletic Score, one of the highest among offensive linemen in combine history.
Membou’s stock has soared since the start of the pre-draft process. He has climbed 24 spots on Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, going from No. 32 in late January to now sitting at No. 8.
Membou backed up his testing numbers with dominant tape. In 2024, he didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit across 411 pass-blocking snaps. He gave up only eight pressures and posted an 87.6 run-blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.
Membou has frequently been linked to the Jets at No. 7 overall. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported he is one of three players under serious consideration by the team in the first round. However, as Miller noted, there is growing uncertainty over whether he’ll still be on the board when New York is on the clock at pick No. 7.
The Patriots prevented the Jets from drafting a right tackle in 2023 when they traded down with the Pittsburgh Steelers, allowing them to leapfrog New York for Broderick Jones. Two years later, New England could prevent another right tackle from becoming a Jet.
