Two of the most astute NFL Draft gurus -- Brian Baldinger of NFL Network and Leger Douzable of CBS Sports -- watched the three-day extravaganza unfold from Green Bay, but always with their eyes on the Jets basketful of hopeful draft choices.
Baldinger summed it up on a new edition of "The Official Jets Podcast" when he told team reporter Eric Allen: "Do it and then just let it go." He added: "Everybody wants to have them in the Pro Bowl, they're just getting started."
What follows is an assessment of the Jets' seven draft picks via comments from Baldinger and Douzable.
T Armand Membou (Rd. 1, No. 7 overall)
Douzable, from the get-go, was all in on Membou, the massive and talented right tackle from Missouri.
"Yeah, me and Baldy were kind of kidding. We kind of always knew that was going to be the pick. You got to think and just read in between the lines. [HC] Aaron Glenn, coming over from Detroit. How did they build it? Throughout the trenches. They had one of the best offensive lines in football. And there was one void on that [the Jets'] offensive line, and you had a player that could easily fill that void in Armand Membou. It wasn't a guy that you had to take and then crosstrain him to the other side, because he hadn't done it. He's played right tackle his whole career, so, it just made too much sense when you talk about him being young, the upside, the athletic ability, and then just the dog mentality that he has fits what Aaron Glenn wants to do."
Baldinger, too, gushed about Membou.
"I think he can get stronger in the upper body where he just locks guys out and then he just ends the pass rush. You can see it in flashes, where he can do that, and he has done that, but you just love his movement. There's so many things you can do with an athletic tackle. I mean, the perimeter game, the quick game, getting to the second level, cutting off on the backside."
TE Mason Taylor (Rd. 2, No. 42)
"Anybody that's watched Detroit the number one offense in football, [TE] Sam LaPorta the day he came out of Iowa, and what he has been able to do in that offense, all the crossing routes all the movement and things that they do, the two tight end sets that you'll get with [Jeremy] Ruckert and Mason Taylor, they [the Lions] were big two tight end set helped in the run game," Baldinger said.
Douzable: "Mason Taylor is going to be the Sam LaPorta that [OC] Tanner Engstrand had in Detroit. So, I could definitely see them coming out in two tight ends. Even some 13 personnel near the red zone and the goal line. ... So it'll be interesting to see how inventive Tanner Engstrand can be with this tight end group of [free agent signing] Stone Smartt, Mason Taylor and Jeremy Ruckert."
CB Azareye'h Thomas (Rd. 3, No. 73)
In Baldinger's view, you can never have enough good, long cornerbacks.
"Thomas was their next best player at number 73 and so they took the best player available. Everybody needs four corners, four corners that can play. And so, we know they've got three starters out there, especially with getting Brandon Stephens in free agency [plus incumbents Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II] . You got yourselves a press corner, whether you're going up against a team that's playing 10 personnel in Buffalo. You might need that fourth corner on the field, but in the rotation, you'd love to have a guy that has that ability and that length at that position."
In the days and weeks leading up to the draft, Douzable and others touted the depth of talent at defensive tackle, but. ...
"They looked at their board for who the next defensive tackle was maybe. And they said Thomas on the board was significantly higher than the next defensive tackle. So, we're going to get the most bang for our buck with the value of getting Thomas here. And I think that's why they took him in the third round."
WR Arian Smith (Rd. 4, No. 110)
Baldinger kept it short and to the point: "Can't teach this type of speed [4.36 seconds in the 40-yard dash], the prototype guy that can fly, not polished yet, but the raw talent is there. ... He's got world-class speed."
If there's a knock against Smith, it was dropped passes this past season.
Douzable: "It's more of a mental confidence thing. There seems to be a mental block once you drop one pass, then you drop another, then you drop another, and the only way to get over that is to continue to go out there and try to catch the football. Once you finally catch the ball, your confidence is going to go out of this world. For him, it's a mental thing, and he has one of the best receivers coaches [Shawn Jefferson] to help instill some of that confidence into him to hopefully get him over that hump."
S Malachi Moore (Rd. 4, No. 130)
After Baldinger had to bounce to another engagement, Douzable had the room to himself.
"Malachi Moore is a free safety, but because of the lack of foot speed, and I don't say that disrespectfully, because he has great instincts, and he tracks the ball extremely well," Douzable said. "I believe he transitions to strong safety because he's a tone setter in that secondary, like when he hits you, you feel it, and you can tell he plays with a tenacity of physicality that Aaron Glenn and [GM] Darren Mougey were looking for in this draft."
He added: "Let's not forget that at Alabama, not only was he a starter on defense, but he was a starter on special teams. So, he has elite game experience when it comes to being a special teams player. So I think he'll make an immediate impact."
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)
LB Francisco Mauigoa (Rd. 5, No. 162)
"This is a physical [6-2, 233], another physical player, right?" Douzable said. "Those were the attributes they were looking for. This is a guy that gets downhill in a hurry. Now, he has struggled at times when it comes to disengaging off offensive linemen, but he's a guy that they also use in blitzing at Miami frequently, and he's a really good blitzer, and knows how to get to the quarterback."
DE Tyler Baron (Rd. 6, No. 186)
"A guy I really like. I think his comp [comparison] is similar to Jermaine Johnson when he was coming out, a very physical guy. He bends tight ends backward at the point of attack. He's a guy that also rushes with power. ... When you look at the edge group right behind Jermaine Johnson, who's coming off a major [Achilles tendon] injury, and also Will McDonald, who had double-digit sacks [10.5]. There's a lot of young guys, so we want to be able to add to that room, especially if you think there's really good value with Tyler Baron in the fifth round."
