Former Mizzou offensive lineman Armand Membou was taken with the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Terrance Williams
Staff Writer

Former University of Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

Membou was the seventh overall pick in the draft, marking the second consecutive season in which Mizzou had a student-athlete chosen in the opening round. He ties former Tiger Aldon Smith (2011) as the third-highest NFL Draft picks in program history, trailing only Russ Washington (No. 4, 1968) and Justin Smith (No. 4, 2001).

Membou, a 6-foot-4, 330-pound Lee’s Summit, Mo., product is the sixth Mizzou draft pick by the Jets and the 22nd player to be selected in the first round. He also becomes the second Tiger offensive lineman chosen in the NFL Draft in as many seasons, joining Javon Foster from a year ago.

“It’s just a big relief and definitely a blessing,” Membou told NewYorkJets.com, shortly after he was selected, adding that when he woke up Thursday morning, he had a feeling that at night he would be a Jet. “I guess God told me,” he said, “plus the Jets have a really young, promising team. I thought that would be a good fit for me, too.”

Mizzou has now had at least one player taken at the prestigious event in 21 consecutive seasons. Additionally, Membou becomes the 15th NFL Draft pick under current Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz.

Membou started in all 25 games for Mizzou the past two seasons, earning second-team All-SEC honors and playing in the Senior Bowl after last season. His metrics showed that he didn’t give up any sacks or any QB hits in 411 pass-blocking snaps in 2024.

Then Membou, who turned 21 last month, went to Indianapolis and wowed offensive line observers at the NFL Combine. He was clocked at 4.91 seconds in the 40 — the fastest time by any O-lineman at least 6-4 and 330 pounds since 2003, according to NFL Research.

He also registered a 9-7 broad jump, the best among all OL this year, and a 34-inch vertical jump. NFL Research also notes that he is one of four O-linemen ever to surpass a 30-inch vertical and run a sub-5.0 40 at 315-plus pounds at the Combine.

“Athletically, he’s off the charts,” Jets new head coach Aaron Glenn said. “He’s mean, tough, nasty. He really fits what we’re trying to do on offense. It was really a no-brainer. Once he was there for our pick, this was the guy.”

Former Mizzou right tackle Armand Membou was an All-SEC player and three-time letter winner in his time with the Tigers. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

A Second Team All-SEC honoree and three-year letter winner, Membou helped Mizzou to 27 wins and three consecutive bowl game appearances (2022 Gasparilla, 2023 Cotton, and 2024 Music City) during his career. He played in 35 career games with 29 starts at tackle and was on the field for 2,243 snaps.

Last fall, Membou started and played in 12-of-13 games at right tackle and helped the offense accumulate 2,138 rushing and 2,926 passing yards as well as 26 rushing touchdowns. He also anchored an offensive line that led the SEC and ranked seventh nationally in time of possession (32:54) and ranked fourth and seventh in the conference in TFLs allowed (4.62) and sacks allowed (2.00) per game, respectively.

“I’m not just fast,” Membou said. “I’m strong, too. Very explosive, strong, can make any block in the game.”

The second and third rounds of the NFL Draft will be on Friday, with the fourth through seventh rounds coming on Saturday.