Aaron Glenn hasn’t even called his first play as Jets head coach, yet he’s already redrawing the blueprint. But do you blame him? The Jets’ defense was not quite what an Aaron-run D looks like… 42 sacks and 118 QB pressures. That’s not the need of the hour, but AG likes it in the top 5, if not top 3, in such metrics. So, does he have a bias when it comes to building defenses, considering his past? Yes, he does have it. But will it show with the Gang Green? Nope! “First, I’m a coach. I just happen to coach defense,” he said.
So, the vision? Build the Jets inside-out—starting with some serious beef up front. Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets are still eyeing an upgrade at defensive tackle—even after signing three low-cost free agents. You don’t host four top-tier DT prospects by accident. That’s not just due diligence—that’s groundwork for a draft-day trench raid.
Mason Graham, Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, and Omarr Norman-Lott all walked through One Jets Drive recently. And it speaks but one thing! Glenn’s serious about getting his backline sorterd.
But Graham’s the headliner out of the fab 4. The Michigan mauler projected to go inside the top 10. He’s met the Jets at the Combine, over dinner, and now again for a top-30 visit. If Jacksonville flinches at No. 5, the Jets might just sprint to the podium at No. 7.
Now, if he’s not it, then don’t worry, there is Harmon. Sneaky value. Quietly dominant at Oregon, he racked up 11 TFLs and five sacks last year. He’s the “space-eater” type who’d let Quinnen Williams tee off on QBs like a tee-ball coach. And let’s not forget Norman-Lott, who got the Jets’ last-minute visit before the pre-draft window slammed shut. That kind of urgency screams interest.
However, the clue here isn’t just in the names. It’s in the type. All four prospects are strong, versatile, and violent in the trenches. Glenn’s not just looking for depth—he’s hunting tone-setters. Guys who don’t just hold blocks, but punish linemen and collapse pockets. That tells you what kind of defense Glenn wants Steve Wilks to build.
So, what does it all mean? Simple. The Jets may not just consider taking a DT early—they might prioritize it. But why this sudden shift from building an O-line for Justin Fields to building the trenches? Well, the answer is with the new rein in Sin City.
Pete Carroll wants a piece of Aaron Glenn’s New York Cheesecake
Aaron Glenn’s defense-first mentality has already started to shape what this Jets team wants to be. But now, you’ve got Pete Carroll, the defensive wizard from the Pacific Northwest, eyeing a crucial piece of that cheesecake: Missouri’s Armand Membou. Yes, the right tackle, every single franchise is drooling over if they wanna keep their O-line elite.
Meanwhile, Membou isn’t just a big dude. He’s nimble. He’s physical. More importantly, he fits Glenn’s trench warfare blueprint like a glove. Think Penei Sewell… just with less national hype and more to prove. The Jets? They need him. Desperately. You let Morgan Moses walk and don’t replace him? That’s like showing up to Lambeau in January with no sleeves. You’re just asking to get hit.
#Jets draft nugget:
They’ve picked a first-round OLM or DLM in 6 straight drafts (and this year could make 7):
2024: OT Fashanu
2023: DE McDonald
2022: DE Johnson
2021: OG Vera-Tucker
2020: OT Becton
2019: DT Williams
This year’s top candidates are OTs — Will Campbell,…
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 20, 2025
Now here’s the twist: NFL Spinzone’s Lou Scataglia thinks Membou won’t even make it to Gang Green. Why? Because the Raiders, sitting at pick No. 6, might just cut the line. “If they were smart and looked at their roster seriously, they would see that Armand Membou should be the pick,” Scataglia wrote. Add in the fact that Vegas just traded for Geno Smith. So, this makes sense. Because Geno’s Seahawks run crumbled behind a leaky line. Now, do you really think the Raiders want déjà vu? Nope.
Which leaves the Jets hanging. Again. If Membou’s gone, it’s a scramble. They could reach for someone like Kelvin Banks Jr.—not ideal. Maybe try to flip the pick and trade down. Or pivot altogether and grab a wideout like Tyler Warren. But none of that feels like Plan A. Membou is Plan A. But if Vegas swipes him? That’s one hell of a gut punch as it comes.
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