Jets insider goes against Jaxson Dart rumors in latest mock draft

Throughout the spring, multiple reporters and analysts have suggested that the New York Jets could make Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart the seventh overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft even though the club signed Justin Fields to a two-year, $40M deal with $30M guaranteed early in free agency. 

In his latest mock draft posted on Friday, Jets insider Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic seemed to pour cold water over such chatter when he predicted that Gang Green will take Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou instead of Dart at No. 7. This past Wednesday, ESPN's Field Yates also linked the Jets with Membou.

"I’m still not entirely convinced Membou will actually make it to No. 7, but if he does, he feels like the right choice since the Jets haven’t seriously addressed the right tackle position this offseason, and only two of the current projected offensive line starters (Joe Tippmann and Olu Fashanu) are under contract beyond 2025," Rosenblatt explained. "...He’s not huge for a tackle (6-4, 332) and could wind up moving to guard at some point in his career, but he’d slot in right away as the Jets’ right tackle, and all of a sudden they’d have a formidable starting unit, something they’ve been trying to find for a long time. Membou didn’t allow any sacks or QB hits in 411 pass-blocking snaps last season and graded out well as a run blocker, too."

Both rebuilding teams and contenders can almost always use additional talent and depth up front. Additionally, the StatMuse website shows that Fields has taken the fourth-most regular-season sacks (151) since he entered the league as a first-round draft pick in the spring of 2021. Keeping him upright and comfortable could help the Jets determine if the 26-year-old can develop as a passer to the point that he could become their long-term answer at the sport's most important position. 

That said, a previous report indicated that some within the Jets were "enamored with" Dart as he rose up draft boards following the NFL Scouting Combine. Those same individuals may quietly be hoping that Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders slides to pick No. 7, but he could go to the Cleveland Browns (No. 2), New York Giants (No. 3) or Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6). 

It's no secret the Jets could move on from Fields as soon as next offseason, but they could also stash Dart as an unused backup through the 2026 campaign if Fields plays well with the third team of his young career. One wonders if the Jets will grab Membou at No. 7, if possible, and then trade back into the first round if Dart gets past a certain pick. 

For example, Yates has Dart going to the Pittsburgh Steelers at overall selection No. 21.