Jets rookie generating surprise OROY buzz after sensational start

There hasn't been a lot you can count on to go right for the New York Jets offense on a week-to-week basis. Breece Hall has had his moments. Garrett Wilson has been good when his quarterbacks can consistently get him the ball, which doesn't always happen. Outside of that, things have been pretty bleak.

Except for one player. Just one who has been consistently excellent, week after week after week. That player is rookie right tackle Armand Membou. Expectations were high for Membou, and rightfully so after the Jets took him with the seventh overall pick, but that isn't to say that what he's done so far was expected.

Membou was thrown into the fire right away, matching up against T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1. Membou didn't just rise to the challenge; he dominated it. In that matchup, Membou posted a 78.6 Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade and an 89.0 overall grade.

His detractors will say he got help. Guess what? Everyone does against Watt, even All-Pro tackles. The thing is, though, it wasn't one-and-done for Membou. He's stood out (or better yet, for an offensive lineman, hasn't stood out) week after week. Now the rest of the football world is starting to take notice.

Jets rookie tackle Armand Membou is earning high praise from those in the know

Through the first quarter of the season, Membou ranks eighth among tackles in pass block win rate at 94%. He's been even better as a run blocker, ranking fourth in run block win rate at 83%.

Membou has also allowed just eight pressures so far this season while earning a 71.9 pass blocking grade in true pass sets. PFF also has graded him out as the 10th-best run-blocking tackle with a 79.0 mark.

The tape shows what the numbers say is true. That's all led ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder to name Membou a serious Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. He's not the only one taking note, either.

Former All-Pro offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night to praise Membou, writing, "Membou has had as many or more signature pancake blocks in 3 games and a few plays as I had in a career. Goodness."

Former Jets right tackle Damien Woody co-signed Schwartz's assessment, adding, "He’s been pretty damn good at a position that’s pretty tough for a rookie." High praise from a couple of guys who know a thing or two about playing right tackle for sure.

Membou is still a long shot to win the prestigious award that Walder stated he's a prime candidate to take home. First, it's still very early, but secondly, Membou actually winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award has never been given to an offensive lineman. Membou would literally need to make history.

Regardless, so far, he hasn't just lived up to every expectation, he's shattered them. And he's been the only consistent bright spot on a very questionable offensive unit.

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