Despite a disappointing 3-14 season in the first year of the new regime, the new leadership of the Jets can at least take solace in the fact that they seem to have nailed their initial first-round pick.

Offensive tackle Armand Membou, who was selected with the seventh overall pick last April, has already started receiving all-rookie recognition following an impressive first season.

Membou started every game at right tackle and settled in immediately with a string of good performances against top pass rushers. While there were some teachable moments at times, he maintained a consistent standard to the end of the season, and the Jets should feel confident that they can rely on him for years to come on the edge.

Let’s break down some of the key aspects of Membou’s performance...

Immediate impact

Membou didn’t play much in the preseason, and although he looked good for the most part, he did get badly beaten by Kayvon Thibodeaux on an inside move that suggested veteran pass rushers might be able to exploit his lack of experience at times. In Week 1, he found himself matched up with former defensive player of the year T.J. Watt. However, he handled the assignment superbly and didn’t give up a single pressure as New York put together what would turn out to be one of its best offensive performances of the season.

He continued to look solid over the next few weeks, and it was clear he had settled into his role by October. Starting center Josh Myers told SNY that he was “so impressed with Membou,” noting how difficult it is to come into the league as a rookie and essentially learn an NFL system, and all that it takes to succeed at the pro level on the fly.

If Membou can continue to develop, he could be well on the way to becoming the Jets’ first Pro Bowl tackle since D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s third and final selection in 2011.

Durability

Membou started every game. In fact, he only missed one snap, and that was at the end of the Miami game when the Jets opted to pack the lineup with skill-position players in an effort to go the length of the field on a desperation multiple-lateral play. Ironically, the only missed snap of Ferguson’s entire career came in an identical situation.

Having had so many issues with offensive line injuries during the Joe Douglas era, the Jets will hope that they have someone in Membou they can continue to rely upon to be available.

Run blocking

One major achievement for the offensive line this season was that Breece Hall was able to rush for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Hall became the first Jet to reach the 1,000-yard threshold since Chris Ivory in 2015, at which time Gang Green still had great players like Ferguson and Nick Mangold on their starting unit.

Membou’s strength at the point of attack has always been impressive, but he also showed the athletic ability to get out and make blocks on the move. He certainly played his part in Hall’s success with the highest run blocking grade on the starting unit, according to Pro Football Focus. Hall averaged 4.6 yards per carry on outside runs to the right side, as opposed to just 3.2 yards per carry to the left side.

Popular in the Community