Jets Take Long-Term Approach in Darren Mougey’s First Draft

The pick is a microcosm of New York’s draft failures over the last decade, which include busts such as Zach Wilson and Jachai Polite. Just one player, Quinnen Williams, is still on the team from its 2019 and 2020 draft classes.

Last weekend, new general manager Darren Mougey had a tall task at hand: to have a draft that steers the franchise in the right direction and sets it up for long-term success. 

Did Mougey achieve this?

Round 1: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

A common denominator among several football contenders is a strong offensive line.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles had the best offensive line in 2024. The runner-up? The Denver Broncos, who went 10-7 and made the postseason for the first time in nine years.

It’ll be a long road back to contention for New York, but picking former Missouri tackle Armand Membou with the seventh pick is a significant step forward. 

After Morgan Moses signed with the Patriots this offseason, the 6-foot-4, 332-pound tackle will be an immediate starter for New York. Membou isn’t your prototypical right tackle, but instead a freakish athlete who’ll have defensive line coordinators gameplanning directly around him. His 4.91 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine also ranked second among all offensive linemen who participated.

While Membou’s athleticism sticks out most at first glance, he’ll bring much-needed consistency to an offensive line that has been the epitome of a revolving door since the mid-2010s. Membou didn’t allow a sack in 2024, a promising sign that he’s relatively pro-ready and can be a viable option from the start. 

Though Membou is far from a perfect prospect and has plenty of room to grow mechanically, this pick is an early indicator that this new regime is doing everything it can to help Justin Fields. 

Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland may have been the flashier pick, but this was the correct long-term move.

Grade: A

Round 2: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Douglas neglected the tight end position early in his tenure with New York. Having Tyler Kroft, who averaged less than 150 yards a season throughout his career, as the team’s best option at the spot was a detriment to Zach Wilson in 2021. Wilson didn’t work out in New York for obvious reasons, but Douglas didn’t do him any favors either.

Tyler Conklin provided a brief jolt with nearly 1,200 yards in 2022 and 2023 combined, but his physical limitations and poor route tree hindered him from elevating New York’s offense. He recently signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency.

Enter Mason Taylor.

Taylor is no stranger to New York. Mason’s father, Jason, was a Jet during the team’s last playoff season in 2010. As a linebacker, he notched five sacks and 36 tackles on a stout defense that featured Darelle Revis and Bart Scott. 

Taylor recorded 546 yards in 2024 at LSU, propelling the Tigers to a 9-4 record despite Jayden Daniels‘ departure. The former Tiger established a solid connection with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and was consistently a reliable target for a somewhat inconsistent LSU offense.

Contrary to Conklin, Taylor’s route tree is well developed, and he moves quite well, especially in the open field. Whether it’s his top-notch athletic tools or solid agility, there’s little reason to believe he won’t be the second-most-targeted option on a New York offense that lost Davante Adams. 

This was a slam-dunk pick and demonstrated how the new Jets regime is devoted to making life easy for Fields. 

Grade: A+

Round 3: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State

After two stellar picks to begin the draft, New York made its first mistake in the third round. 

Make no mistake, former Florida State corner Azareye’h Thomas will be a solid player in the NFL, especially with head coach Aaron Glenn‘s defensive prowess at the helm. He’s a 6-foot-2, physical defensive back whose playstyle mirrors Carlton Davis, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. Thomas racked up 95 tackles, 17 pass deflections, and two interceptions during his three-year FSU tenure. 

The issue isn’t who New York selected — it’s the position. 

Mougey brought in former Raven Brandon Stephens to replace the No. 2 cornerback void D.J. Reed left after he signed with the Lions. The fact that Stephens, not Thomas, will likely start makes this pick a bit puzzling. If this was intended to be a depth pick, New York still had many options on Day 3. 

The Jets instead should have taken a receiver. Outside of star Garrett Wilson, New York’s receiving corps resembles a middle school one. Corley has been a dud thus far, Allen Lazard‘s drop issues warrant plenty of concern, and Tyler Johnson and Josh Reynolds are best suited as No. 3 receivers.

Jaylin Noel and Elic Ayomanor would’ve been ideal picks at 73 for a front office attempting to help its new quarterback. Not only would both be No. 2 receivers immediately, but they would’ve undeniably smoothed Fields’ transition to the Big Apple. 

Thomas is uber talented and can blossom into a stud under Glenn, but receiver was a much more significant need here.

Grade: C+

Round 4: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia

Grand slam or strikeout. Tyreek Hill-lite or cut within a year. That’s the best way to describe the Jets taking wide receiver Arian Smith in the fourth round.

Smith’s most noticeable trait is his blazing speed. His 4.36 40-yard dash doesn’t do justice to how fast he is on tape. Whenever Carson Beck scanned downfield for an open man at Georgia last year, he’d likely see Smith deep, breaking free from a swarm of defenders like a cheetah on the loose. While New York has lacked explosiveness at receiver for the last few years, the former Georgia Bulldog can provide that with his dynamic play style.

At this moment, nearly all those positives are negated by one glaring weakness: drops.

Smith’s alarming 17% drop rate in 2024 speaks for itself: he’s visibly uncomfortable when the football comes his way. Even though he’s shifty and explosive with the ball in his hands, nothing matters if you don’t secure it in the first place. If Smith manages to see the field as a rookie, Jet fans will be holding their breath, hoping that he doesn’t drop a wide-open touchdown. 

It’s not just contested catches that Smith has trouble with — he often drops passes that even a middle school receiver could hold onto. In an offense that struggled with drops in 2024, Smith’s resume isn’t exactly inspiring. 

Unless Jets wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson works his magic and helps Smith rectify this issue, the fourth-round pick faces an uphill battle to carve out a starting role at the NFL level. Therefore, this selection made little sense in the short term.

Grade: D

Round 4: Malachi Moore, S, Alabama

Similar to Saleh, it’s evident that the Jets will embrace a defensive identity under Glenn. Therefore, he and Mougey devoted most of Day 3 to adding depth on that side of the ball. 

That strategy started with taking Alabama safety Malachi Moore in the fourth round after trading up with the Eagles. Moore led the Crimson Tide with eight pass breakups in 2024, was a team captain, and provides versatility to a Jets safety room that desperately needs it. He can play both free and strong safety and will instantly be a quality depth piece for New York. 

Grade: A

Round 5 Picks

New York continued adding defensive depth in the fifth round by selecting a pair of Miami Hurricanes: linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and edge rusher Tyler Baron.

Both must show more consistency to become productive starters, but they should be valuable rotational pieces for the Jets as they embark on yet another retool. Mauigoa joins a linebacker corps headlined by Quincy Williams, while Baron joins a room with Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson at the forefront of it.

Grade: B+

Final Thoughts

If this draft indicated one thing, it’s that New York is clearly rebuilding and not aiming to contend in 2025. Picks such as Smith and Thomas show how Mougey is trying to set the team up for long-term success, something Douglas failed to accomplish.

Were there better options on the board at certain picks? Sure. But it’s evident that the Jets strived to establish a direction this draft — something the last regime gave little attention to after 2022.

Final Draft Grade: B+