Football scouts love a good comparison. It’s basically their love language. But when people started whispering the name Trent Williams in the same breath as Missouri’s Armand Membou leading up to the 2025 Draft, a lot of folks rolled their eyes. Williams is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Membou was a kid from Lee's Summit with "short arms."
Now that we’ve seen Membou’s rookie season with the New York Jets play out in 2025, those comparisons don't look so crazy. It’s not just about the size; it’s about the "freak factor."
The Testing Numbers That Fired Up the Trent Williams Comp
Let’s be real: Trent Williams is a unicorn. At 320 pounds, he moves like a tight end. So, when Armand Membou showed up to the 2025 NFL Combine and clocked a 4.91-second 40-yard dash at 332 pounds, the room went quiet.
That wasn't just fast. It was historic.
Only a handful of human beings that heavy have ever moved that fast. Williams is one of them. Tristan Wirfs is another. Membou joined that exclusive club, and he did it with a 34-inch vertical and a 9-foot-7 broad jump. When you see a guy that big explode like that, you aren't just looking at a blocker. You're looking at a weapon.
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Most offensive linemen are just trying to stay in the way. Membou, like Williams, is trying to hunt.
Why the "Undersized" Label Didn't Matter
Critics spent all of 2024 and early 2025 complaining about Membou’s length. He’s 6'4". In a world where every NFL team wants 6'7" giants at tackle, he’s "short." His arms measured just under 34 inches.
But here’s what the "measurements-only" crowd missed: leverage.
Trent Williams has always been a master of using his lower center of gravity to uproot pass rushers. Membou does the exact same thing. During his final year at Missouri, he played 827 snaps and allowed zero sacks. Zero. You don't do that in the SEC by accident. He used that elite athleticism to mirror speed rushers and that natural leverage to anchor against bull rushes.
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The Jets' Big Bet at No. 7
When the New York Jets took Membou with the 7th overall pick in 2025, the fanbase was... well, they were the Jets fanbase. They were split. Some wanted a flashy playmaker like Tyler Warren. Others saw the vision of a rebuilt offensive line.
Honestly, the "vision" won out. Membou didn't just start; he dominated.
He finished his rookie 2025 season with a 72.7 PFF grade, which is monstrous for a first-year tackle. He spent the season erasing Pro Bowl edge rushers and proving that the Trent Williams athletic profile translates to the pros, even if you’re a couple of inches shorter than the prototype.
How Membou Mirrors the Silverback’s Style:
- The Punch: Like Williams, Membou doesn't just "place" his hands. He strikes. It’s a violent, independent hand usage that stops a defender's momentum instantly.
- The Pull: Watch the Jets' 2025 tape. When they ran outside zone or screens, Membou was 15 yards downfield, looking for a linebacker to delete.
- Recovery Speed: Most tackles, once they're beat, they're beat. Membou has the "twitch" to recover and wash a defender past the pocket, a signature Trent Williams move.
Looking Ahead to 2026
We're sitting here in January 2026, and the Jets are looking at the No. 2 overall pick. The good news? They don't have to worry about the right side of their line. Membou has locked that down.
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The conversation has shifted from "Is he big enough?" to "Is he the best young tackle in the league?" While he hasn't reached Trent Williams' level of dominance yet—nobody has—the trajectory is identical.
If you're looking to play like Membou or just want to understand why he's succeeding, focus on the lower body explosiveness. It's the secret sauce. While others are working on their reach, Membou is working on his launch.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Students:
- Stop obsessing over height. If you have elite "short-area" twitch and a 30+ inch vertical at 300 lbs, you can play tackle.
- Leverage is king. Use a lower center of gravity to get under the pads of taller edge rushers.
- Film Study. If you want to see the Membou/Williams blueprint in action, watch how they use their inside hand to "reset" a rusher's path.
The Jets finally found a foundational piece. Now they just need a quarterback who can stay upright long enough to enjoy the protection.