It's difficult at times to distinguish among competitors in the NFL. They all want the same things, from free agency, the draft, the offseason and the preseason. And that is to dominate, play the game better than everyone else, win the regular season, then win the postseason.
It all comes down to players, coaching, techniques and style. Or in the word of Jets first-year head coach Aaron Glenn, "it's all about the brand."
"The number one thing is we really got guys that fit the brand of who we're going to be," Glenn said alongside first-year GM Darren Mougey after the Jets' 2025 draft had concluded Saturday. "We've been very intentional about the guys that we want to be part of this organization. I would say the same things when it comes to coaches— everyone fits. We want to continue that trend. We might look different and acti different, but the core of everyone is the same."
And what is that core on this new Jets incarnation?
"Tough, physical, violent, aggressive, a resilient attitude," Glenn said. "If we continue to get guys like that, you'll see the brand show up on the grass."
The Jets dived into that procurement process by selecting seven players over the three days of the draft, including four on Day 3. Their process showed the similarities and differences compared to recent Jets drafts, especially last year's session.
Last year the Jets could have been beguiled by the potential shiny pass-catching object that was TE Brock Bowers, but they settled on continuing the rebuild of their offensive line with T Olu Fashanu at No. 11.
This year up top it was more of the same. TE Tyler Warren was looking tempting at No, 7, but as Glenn explained: "I'm a firm believer that you start inside out, so if we can build our line — just as much as our defensive line — that only helps you as a team. It helps your quarterback, your running backs, your passing game, and it just creates an identity within your team that you're trying to make sure that every team, when they watch film, they see that."
And so the Green & White, under their new management, went the same route in securing a hoped-for bookend RT for Fashanu in Armand Membou.
From there, things diverged. The Jets did go for that TE and quickly, in Round 2, taking Mason Taylor, son of Jason Taylor. We recall the initial discomfort of many Jets fans in having to embrace the elder Taylor, the former decade-plus Dolphin and Jets-crusher, for what they wanted to do in 2010. But embrace they did, and JT was instrumental in helping the Jets all the way to their second straight AFC Championship Game appearance.
Jason waxed ecstatically about his time with his family, including young Mason, as a New Yorker for a year. And apparently all has been forgiven, with young Mason providing "pop-up" receiving skills plus some of the same things that AG said Membou does: helping the Jets' QB, their backs and their passing game.
Then on Day 3 the real division arrived. The Jets, in adding CB Azareye'h Thomas of Florida State in Round 3 and elite-speed WR Arian Smith from Georgia in Round 4, seemed to signal a break from recent Green & White tradition, since each of the first four picks in this draft were the Jets' original choices. In the '23 draft, the Jets actually made more trades (seven) than picks (six), and none of those picks were in the team's original slots.
See photos of the 2025 NFL Draft class, including T Armand Membou (Missouri), TE Mason Taylor (LSU), CB Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State), WR Arian Smith (Georgia), DB Malachi Moore (Alabama), LB Francisco Mauigoa (Miami) and DE Tyler Baron (Miami).
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore walks off the field postgame.
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord (6) reaches for his fumble while tackled by Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) walks up to the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) runs a reception for a gain before being tackled by UCLA defensive back Ramon Henderson (11) during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) runs in for a touchdown after a catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UAB, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Missouri offensive lineman Armand Membou (79) sets up at the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa gestures during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Missouri guard Armand Membou, left, in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Buffalo Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) celebrates a first down in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) breaks up a pass intended for Syracuse wide receiver Damien Alford (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) sets up for a play against Florida during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas (20) sets up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes a catch in front of Tennessee defensive back Brandon Turnage (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022 in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) is tripped by Southern California safety Kamari Ramsey, bottom, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Steve Marcus)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) makes the catch against Ohio State during the first half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith (11) celebrates after overtime over Texas in overtime of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) leaps over UCLA defensive back Jaylin Davies (6) for a gain during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Baton Rouge, La. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Florida State defensive back Azareye'h Thomas participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, February 28, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza throws the ball under pressure from Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Miami. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
Florida A&M running back Thad Franklin Jr. (23) is stopped short of the goal line by Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa, center, during the first half of an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) runs past Miami defensive lineman Tyler Baron after a reception during the second half of the Pop Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Azareye'h Thomas (20) follows a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyler Baron (9) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UConn Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
LSU tight end Mason Taylor (86) carries in the first half of an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Louisville quarterback Jack Plummer (13) scrambles as he looks for a teammate under pressure from Miami linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Alabama DB Malachi Moore breaks up a pass during a matchup with the Auburn Tigers.
Alabama DB Malachi Moore hypes up the crowd during a game against the Auburn Tigers.
Washington State linebacker Francisco Mauigoa (51) lines up for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Idaho, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Miami's Francisco Mauigoa during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
North Carolina State's MJ Morris (7) passes the ball past Miami's Francisco Mauigoa (51) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)
West's Brady Cook (12), of Missouri, scrambles out of the pocket as East's Tyler Baron (99), of Miami, pursues in the first half of the East West Shrine Bowl NCAA college football game in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Not saying the trade route is better or worse, but it appeared the Mougey regime was going to play its first draft steady as it goes with the picks that brung them. That is, until Round 4 grew old and Team Mouge executed the first of its two Saturday trades.
"We look at the board and we see how we think it's going to fall by position," Mougey said. "Some guys we may have targeted ... and we definitely view those players maybe higher than where we think this board falls. You might get this 'lesser' player where we can give up a minimal pick swap and go get this player that really fits us."
There's that brand thing again.
The Jets traded fifth- and sixth-rounders to the Super Bowl-winning Eagles to move up to 140 and grab S Malachi Moore of Alabama. As Mougey analyzed, Moore is "instinctive, tough, he was a team captain ... He's made of the right stuff at safety."
Then they went to the Hurricane well twice. First they took LB Francisco Mauigoa, also "tough, physical, instinctive, and I believe he was another team captain." Then another trade sent the Jets' remaining Round 6 pick and a '26 fifth-rounder for Baltimore's compensatory pick at the end of Round 5 and a Ravens sixth-rounder next year. This time the targeted player was Kiko's Canes teammate, DE Tyler Baron.
So the Mougey/Glenn team did it their way, similar to but not the same as any other NFL team. Then they were headed upstairs at 1 Jets Drive to continue to process of building this new brand by conducting what the GM called their "sixth and seventh rounds," another way of saying they were moving seamlessly into the undrafted free agency phase.
After that, Mougey said, some rest: "I'm, quite honestly, exhausted." But he and AG will be back at it with meetings, conditioning sessions and minicamps. And all the rest of the offseason will morph into training camp and a new year with new hopes and dreams. And little rest for the weary.
"By no means is the roster ever complete," Mougey said. For any organization, in business, Hollywood, politics and especially the NFL, the brand-building is never done. But occasionally, it is very rewarding.
