It’s time for the moment you have all been waiting for: The reveal of the New York Jets’ rookie jersey numbers.
Heading into rookie minicamp, the Jets revealed the initial jersey numbers of their 2025 draft class on Friday morning. Here are the digits that the youngsters will be rocking during their first on-field action as professionals:
- OT Armand Membou: No. 70
- TE Mason Taylor: No. 46
- CB Azareye’h Thomas: No. 23
- WR Arian Smith: No. 82
- S Malachi Moore: No. 27
- LB Francisco Mauigoa: No. 51
- DE Tyler Baron: No. 94
Allow Jets X-Factor to submit its official reviews.
OT Armand Membou (#70)
The big seven-oh is a clean number for offensive linemen. It sends a clear message that they are out to get you with no questions asked.
You don’t have to wonder why they chose something weird, like 73 or 79. The gist comes across immediately. It’s the speed limit on the interstate. It’s a transformational decade in entertainment, sports, and culture. It’s how many points the Jets are going to drop on your heads after Armand Membou pancakes your edge rusher on every play.
I also think it is a fitting number for an athletic specimen like Membou. Numbers like 68, 78, and 55 give off a “stocky” feel for offensive linemen, as if they are big and mean, but sluggish. Membou certainly has size in spades (332 pounds), but it’s his 4.91 time in the forty-yard dash (97th percentile among offensive linemen) that really sets him apart as an elite prospect.
This is a man who will run circles around your defensive line, plant them in the dirt when he’s done, and laugh while doing it. The roundness of the “0” alongside the aggressiveness of the “7” gives off the “athletic yet nasty” vibe of an 18-wheeler with the handling of a sports car.
The Jets have some good history with this number. Defensive tackle Mike DeVito wore it from 2007-12, establishing himself as a high-end run stuffer and contributing to two deep playoff runs. Quinton Jefferson wore it in 2023, rushing the passer at a high level from the interior.
Expect Membou to stick with this fantastic number.
Grade: A+
TE Mason Taylor (#46)
Gross! No way this one sticks.
I love the grittiness of these old-school digits as much as the next guy, but Mason Taylor was not drafted in the second round to line up in the I-formation and shellac the MIKE. When you see a “4” as the first digit, you think of a farm-raised fullback from the Midwest who is out there to steamroll people, not make plays with the football.
Taylor is in New York to do the latter. He’s an athletic, smooth, and skilled pass-catcher who could immediately be the Jets’ No. 2 weapon in the passing game. His blocking needs a lot of work. If he wants to establish himself as a fantasy star who sells jerseys in the MetLife concourse, he will want a jersey number in the 80s, like most of the superstar tight ends who came before him.
According to the Jets’ official website, every number in the 80s is taken except for Nos. 80 and 85. The former is unofficially retired for Jets X-Factor’s own Wayne Chrebet. Perhaps Taylor could take the latter, but my guess is that he is waiting for No. 86, his college number, to open up. That is currently taken by tight end Neal Johnson.
Save this one for a fullback. It will go down in the annals of Jets rookie minicamp history alongside the likes of Sauce Gardner’s No. 20 and Breece Hall’s No. 35.
Grade: D
CB Azareye’h Thomas (#23)
Clean, simple, effective.
You know what you’re getting with No. 23: toughness and a standard of excellence. It is the quintessential sports number.
Jordan. LeBron. Shonn Greene.
Now, Azareye’h Thomas.
Grade: A+
WR Arian Smith (#82)
Numbers in the 80s have gone to the wayside at the wide receiver position.
Throughout the 2010s, numbers in the 10-19 range began to take over, led by stars like Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Tyreek Hill, and Davante Adams. When the jersey rules changed in 2021, single-digits became all the rage.
For this reason, I applaud Smith for bringing the 80s back.
Xavier Gipson wore this number over the last two seasons, but Gipson changed to No. 3 this offseason, following the new-school wave.
The most notable Jets player to wear No. 82 is tight end Mickey Shuler, who played 160 games for New York across 12 seasons.
Grade: A
S Malachi Moore (#27)
27 is not my favorite number in the 20s (perhaps that is due to Darryl Roberts flashbacks), but in the Jets’ jersey number font, it looks pretty swell. Nice pick for the rookie safety.
Grade: B+
LB Francisco Mauigoa (#51)
I get a sense of athleticism when a linebacker wears No. 51, which is befitting for the speedy Mauigoa (4.6 forty time).
In addition, Mauigoa is putting history on his side. The Jets have had some solid linebackers don this number, including Ralph Baker, Greg Buttle, Jonathan Vilma, and Bryan Cox.
Grade: A
DE Tyler Baron (#94)
Like wide receivers, edge rushers have begun to favor single-digit numbers. Credit to Baron for staying old-school. Wearing No. 94 versus a single-digit automatically adds 5 points to your strength rating.
Similar to Mauigoa, Baron is putting himself in the company of some successful Jets defensive linemen, including Scott Mersereau, John Abraham, Damon “Snacks” Harrison, and Foley Fatukasi.
Grade: A
