For the first time in 14 years, Missouri could have multiple players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
Armand Membou has seen his draft stock rise as much as anyone over the past three months and is now considered a sure-fire first-round selection.
Luther Burden, on the other hand, has seen his draft stock slip despite an impressive showing at the combine, falling to a fringe first-round projection.
On Thursday night in Green Bay, the questions will be answered as the former Tigers duo hopes to each find a new NFL home.
Both Burden and Membou played pivotal roles in Missouri’s resurgence, helping lead the Tigers to 22 wins over the past two seasons.
Membou's outlook:
For Membou, it’s simple: his athleticism is off the charts for a 315-pound lineman. The lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft couldn’t have gone any better. The three-year starter at Missouri maximized his opportunities at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, significantly boosting his stock and positioning himself as a likely top-10 pick.
While there were rumors that Membou could go as high as No. 4 to the New England Patriots, fellow SEC tackle Will Campbell still appears to hold the top spot among offensive linemen in this draft class.
After @movethesticks locked in Armand Membou going to the Jets in his final mock, their O-Line gets a new RT 💪 pic.twitter.com/BtwG6IvdDl
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 24, 2025
The most likely landing spot for Membou is No. 7 to the New York Jets — an intriguing fit for a team that has struggled to fully develop talent in recent years. That said, it remains to be seen where Membou will land and whether he ultimately cracks the top 10.
Burden's outlook:
At one point over the past year, Luther Burden was considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately for Burden, a statistically underwhelming finish to his junior season dealt a blow to his draft stock.
Burden is projected to be selected either late in the first round or early in the second, but one thing is certain — he’ll be productive wherever he lands.
Instability at quarterback, combined with facing some of the toughest defensive backs in college football, contributed to an unproductive 2024 season for Burden.
Burden has the ability to make defenses look foolish and possesses as much pure talent as any skill-position player in the 2025 draft class.
One landing spot that continues to surface — and would make plenty of sense — is the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 31.
Todd McShay on the Chiefs pick from a mailbag article. Not sure I 100% agree that Saint Louis -> Mizzou -> Kansas City would all be hometown for Luther Burden pic.twitter.com/IrRLCWrPrI
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) April 22, 2025
Pairing Burden with the Chiefs’ offense could be a nightmare scenario for the rest of the NFL. After being deprived of elite quarterback play during his time at Missouri, Burden has the potential to make an immediate impact in the right system.
Ultimately, it will be exciting to see how the NFL Draft unfolds Thursday and where standout Tigers like Burden and Membou end up landing.