Jets’ 2025 draft echoes blueprint that jump-started Lions rebuild

We all know of the connections between the New York Jets and Detroit Lions. Both head coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand were key coaches on Dan Campbell’s staff.

And with Glenn and Darren Mougey at the helm for Gang Green’s rebuild, they are emulating the approach that brought winning football back to the Motor City. It all starts with the Jets’ 2025 draft class.

Jets’ recent draft class shows shades of Lions-like impact

New York passed on pass-catchers like Tyler Warren and Tetairoa McMillan in order to reinforce their identity with the selection of Missouri tackle Armand Membou at No. 7 overall.

It’s that same trench-first mentality Detroit used to reshape its identity under Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes by selecting Penei Sewell with the same pick back in 2021.

The Jets also selected Membou with the intent of moving him to the right side of the offensive line to form a formidable bookend tackle tandem with Olu Fashanu, mirroring what the Lions did with Sewell and Taylor Decker.

But the parallels don’t end with Membou.

In the third round of the 2021 draft, the Lions selected Syracuse defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu. Four years later, Glenn gets a similar chess piece in Florida State’s Azareye’h Thomas, who, like Melifonwu — or more recently, Carlton Davis — fits the mold of what he looks for in an outside defensive back.

Like how the Lions struck gold with Amon-Ra St. Brown in the fourth round, the Jets are hoping for a similar breakout from wide receiver Arian Smith. The Georgia product has an opportunity to see the field immediately due to his impressive speed.

But as long as the drop issues that plagued him in college don’t translate to the NFL, he can create waves alongside the recently-extended Garrett Wilson.

And 20 picks later, the three-time Pro Bowler found someone he hopes can be his new Brian Branch in a former teammate of Branch’s at Alabama: Malachi Moore. Like fellow Day 3 pick Michael Carter II, Moore is expected to slot into a Swiss-army knife role, which will put his versatility to good use at both nickel cornerback and safety.

His versatility is so electrifying that Moore has been compared to another former AFC East star in three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty.

But potentially most importantly, Engstrand may have found his own version of Sam LaPorta in second-round pick Mason Taylor. Taylor may have taken longer than expected to sign his NFL contract, but don't let that fool you.

In Detroit, Engstrand was a protege of Ben Johnson, who turned LaPorta, a 2023 second-rounder, into a Pro Bowler who shattered franchise records in his rookie season. And in an offense expected to lean on the tight ends with Justin Fields under center, the NFL legacy can harbor similar expectations entering his age-21 season.

Glenn saw firsthand what happens when you build from the inside out and trust the process. Now the Jets are hoping their version of that rebuild can yield similar results.

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