The 2025 NFL Draft for the Jets was about addressing positional needs and head scratching picks

The sun has officially set on the 2025 NFL Draft and the New York Jets have seven new draftees on the roster. While Darren Mougey focused on the offense early, the Jets wound up trading up in later rounds to get the players the wanted for the defensive side of the ball.  

The ingrediants are bought, and now it is up to chef Aaron Glenn to make a winning dish with the players on the roster.  Let's dive into the Jets' official draft class for the 2025 offseason.

Round 1, No. 7 overall: Armand Membou, OT Missouri Tigers

The Jets had a choice to make at seventh overall: sure up the offensive line or take an offensive weapon. The Jets chose the former for the second year in a row.

Membou is a natural right tackle who still has some developing to do, despite not allowing a sack all of last season in a very talented SEC. He will be able to handle the pass game quickly, but still has some work to do in his run blocking. He also has to learn to cut down on the holding penalties.

Membou is a safe pick. He has all the tools and skills to be an NFL starter for a long time. But this pick is a result of poor drafting and player development for years. The Jets offensive line now consists of three first-round picks, a high-priced free agent and an early second-round pick. The Jets cannot be accused of ignoring the offensive line, but they can be accused of not developing it. The Jets philosophy at the offensive line is if you weren’t taken early, you can’t play.

So, the Jets will boast one of the most talented offensive lines on paper and try and piece the rest of their offense together.

Grade: A-

Round 2, No. 42 overall: Mason Taylor, TE LSU Tigers

The Jets bring back the son of former Jet (really, former Dolphin) Jason Taylor with Taylor. I have seen a lot of people overly praise this pick, and frankly, I don’t get it. To me Taylor is the tight end version of Vanilla ice cream. He’s okay.

Taylor is not a fantastic blocker. He is not a fantastic pass catcher. He’s steady. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with having a steady player, but the Jets are building an offense that is one dimensional. Taylor has never had 100 yards in a game. He only has five catches over 20 yards in his career and one out of every 21 catches was for a TD. The Jets have no fire power in their pass game outside of Garrett Wilson and I imagine opposing defenses are going to know it.

Grade: C

Round 3, No. 73 overall: Azareye’h Thomas, CB Florida State Seminoles

We didn’t think Aaron Glenn was going to go an entire draft and not select a cornerback, did we? The Jets take Florida State’s lone bright spot to their two-win 2024 campaign in Thomas. Azareye’h only allowed 17 catches all season on 33 targets.

The Jets must have liked the game tape because Thomas completely botched his 40-yard dash running a paltry 4.58. Glenn feels he plays “faster on tape” than he did in shorts. If he is right, this could be a steal. I have made my opinions known on free agent signing Brandon Stephens, and if Thomas can play fast on the field, they will save themselves from the awful free agent signing.

Grade: B

Round 4, No. 110 overall: Arian Smith, WR Georgia

Almost the completely opposite of the Thomas pick in the third round, Smith is all about the numbers. Smith is a track athlete who runs a 4.36 40-yard dash. He has blazing speed and decent height at 6’ even. So why was he available in the fourth round? He can’t catch. Kind of an important trait for a wide receiver.

Smith had 10 drops in 2024. Four came downfield, two on intermediate routes, four within 10 yards of the line. Nothing will dishearten an offense more than a turnover or a drop. If Smith can figure out the hands, he can be a big play threat down the line, but he is still raw and lacks polish. This is a high upside pick with a very clear path to being a star or out of the league quickly.

Grade: C-

Round 4, No. 130 overall: Malachi Moore, DB Alabama Crimson Tide

The Jets traded up 15 spots back into the fourth round with the Philadelphia Eagles to get the Alabama safety. The Jets give up the 145^th pick and their last pick, 207 in the sixth round to move up.

I actually had Moore mocked to the Jets in one of my earlier mock drafts this year, the problem is I had him going to the Jets in sixth-round, not in the fourth. Moore is simply not a good enough athlete to be a consistent contributor on defense.

He has average measurables and will have some trouble in man-coverage. He won’t be able to cover speedy slot-receivers one on one and will get blocked easily if he walks up to the line of scrimmage.

On the upside, he is a natural leader and will be a big time contributor on special teams. He has a high football IQ and anticipates and diagnosis the plays well from deep.

Grade: D

Round 5, No. 162 overall: Francisco Mauigoa, LB Miami Hurricanes

The Jets stay on the defensive side of the ball with Mauigoa. An off ball linebacker, Mauigoa ed the Hurricanes in tackles and tackles for loss as both a junior and senior. He was the defensive team captain. He is a good instinctual player with a good football IQ. A real “do your job” type of player.

Mauigoa needs to clean up his missed tackles and coverage missteps to earn defensive snaps, but his instincts, chase speed and mentality are draftable traits that will endear him to NFL coaching. Special teams will help him make a roster.

Grade: C

Round 5, No. 176 overall: Tyler Baron, Edge Miami Hurricanes

The Jets make another deal to grab the last pick of the fifth round with the Baltimore Ravens. The Jets give up pick 186 (their last pick after the Malachi Moore trade earlier) and a fifth rounder in 2026 for the 176^th pick and 2026 sixth round pick.

With the pick the Jets go back to back on Miami defenders, this time grabbing Baron. Baron is a testament to “what could be”. He was considered a transfer-portal prize for the Hurricanes after leaving the Tennessee Volunteers, he didn’t quite live up to expectations in 2024. He lead the canes in tackles for loss.

Baron is an undisciplined player who gets penalized too often and tends to stand up too much in a sport where low-man wins. He does off the Jets some versatility along the defensive line with the size to drop inside if needed.

Grade: C+

Final Word

Not an overwhelming draft class for Mougey in his first go-around at the helm.  He chose safe players early and lotto picks late.  Not the worst strategy, but at some point one of those lottery picks will have to cash in order for this to be a successful draft.