It took the Jets one pick to give Justin Fields what Aaron Rodgers always needed

Justin Fried

Former NY Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers / Luke Hales/GettyImages

The New York Jets just did for Justin Fields what they never quite managed for Aaron Rodgers. They put a monster offensive line in front of him.

With the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Missouri’s Armand Membou, the most polished right tackle prospect in the class and arguably the best fit on the board.

Membou fills one of the Jets’ most glaring needs and, more importantly, completes an offensive line that suddenly looks like one of the league’s most promising young units. No one should be happier than Fields.

Rodgers had decent protection in 2024, but it was never this. He never got to play behind a line with two premium first-round tackles in Membou and Olu Fashanu, a second-round centerpiece in Joe Tippmann, and the interior strength of Alijah Vera-Tucker and John Simpson.

For two years, the Jets failed to fully commit to protecting their quarterback investment. Now, under Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey, they’ve done exactly that for Fields, and they’ve done it the right way.

Justin Fields should be thrilled by the NY Jets' Armand Membou pick

Membou is a plug-and-play instant starter at right tackle with the balance, power, and temperament to step in immediately and thrive. This is the kind of foundational move that resets the tone of the franchise.

Fields now walks into a cleaner pocket, a more sustainable offense, and a front five that looks ready to dominate. Rodgers never got that chance. Fields just did in one night.

But just as much as this is a pick to help Fields, it's also a pick to assist the future of the quarterback position in New York. Barring a complete career turnaround, Fields likely isn't going to be the long-term solution for the Jets.

That means the team will almost definitely be drafting another quarterback early in the next couple of years. That rookie quarterback will now step into a situation with what should be an excellent offensive line core in place.

The Membou pick is also crucial, with Simpson and Vera-Tucker both set to hit free agency next offseason. It's rare to see NFL teams pay top dollar to two offensive guards, so there's a very real chance the Jets will have another hole on their offensive line to fill a year from now.

Membou gives the Jets another young core offensive lineman on a rookie contract. This is how you build a roster around a quarterback.

Rodgers and the countess failed Jets quarterbacks before him never received this luxury, but the new regime is making sure Fields doesn't suffer the same fate.

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Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.