Luther Burden III declared for this year’s draft earlier in the week, but he is not the only Missouri junior to take that route. Right tackle Armand Membou informed ESPN’s Pete Thamel he is headed to the NFL this spring.

Membou will skip the Tigers’ upcoming bowl game and turn his attention to pre-draft preparation. As a prospect whose stock is built in no small part on his athleticism, the Combine in March will be a critical checkpoint during that process. Membou will depart Missouri after playing a key role for the team up front.

The former four-star recruit made 11 appearances during his freshman campaign, starting the last five. His success in that span set him up for a two-year stretch as the Tigers’ starting right tackle. Membou allowed only two sacks in 2023, making him an impactful member of an offensive line which finished as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore award that year. Expectations were high entering the 2024 campaign as a result.

Membou delivered another strong outing, earning third-team All-SEC honors. PFF charged him with zero sacks and only seven pressures allowed in pass protection, resulting in an overall grade of 86.7. That makes the 6-3, 314-pounder one of the offensive linemen worth watching closely over the coming months, although a move to the interior may be needed at the NFL level. If that were to be the case, a lengthier wait on Day 2 of the draft could be in store.

The likes of Will Campbell (LSU) and Josh Simmons (Ohio State) have made the expected decisions of declaring for April’s draft as well. They represent two of the top options for teams in need of help up front this spring, and they will be highly sought after. For those which do not manage to find immediate O-line help during the first round, Membou could become a target.