The New York Jets have a pivotal decision waiting for them with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. It will be the first pick of the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey administration and a chance for them to spend significant draft capital on a prospect who fits their vision.
Fans can expect them to act on those ideals in pursuit of replicating the brand of football the Detroit Lions have showcased in the Dan Campbell Era.
That takes New York away from the quarterback position and perhaps the flashiest options on the board, but it isn't a one-way ticket to old-school football. The game is still won in the trenches, and while running back value has fluctuated, the ability to run the ball and stop the run still looms large in January.
As such, it's no surprise that when ESPN's Jets reporter Rich Cimini revealed the frontrunners for the No. 7 pick, they wound up close to the line of scrimmage.
"With 11 days to go before the draft, the top candidates for the Jets' pick at No. 7 are tackles Will Campbell (LSU) and Armand Membou (Missouri) and tight end Tyler Warren (Penn State)," Cimini wrote. "This is based on conversations with league sources."
With Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter considered locks for the top four picks in the NFL Draft, there's plenty of room for one of these targets – if not both linemen – to come off the board. As Shedeur Sanders, defensive tackle Mason Graham, and a handful of top prospects contend for those early selections, though, New York is positioned well to have one of those favorites available to them.
Campbell and Membou, as tackles, check the boxes as more prototypical picks. Both are elite athletes at a high-value position. Membou is a cleaner fit at right tackle given it's where he spent his college career, but Campbell may have tackle-guard flexibility, should his length be sufficient for NFL edge rushers.
It won't be sexy, but either one would make the Jets more physical up front and add a second well-regarded tackle prospect to the offensive line. In the immediate future, that bodes well for quarterback Justin Fields and an offense reliant on the ground game. The selection would also be critical to an eventual rookie's landing spot, whenever that may be.
Warren, meanwhile, obviously has a more direct impact on the passing game. However, it's his versatility that would appeal to New York. While not a direct player comparison, using Warren in a George Kittle-like role where he can block in-line and make plays from the slot is tantalizing. While first-round tight ends haven't historically worked out, the upside of a game-changing chess piece is hard to ignore.
In any event, Cimini's reporting suggests that the Jets are committed to a particular vision, instilling the culture implied by Glenn's hire.
