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Rich Cimini
Florham Park, NJ – His former boss recently called it a “hidden jewel” in the community of scouting and staff. These days are over.
After 13 years of substantive positions with the Broncos de Denver – from the scouting trainee to the Deputy Director General – Darren Mougey is in front, preparing to direct his first project of the big chair as director general of the New York Jets.
“Yeah, I’m sure there will be nerves,” said Mougey, who was hired in January to replace Joe Douglas. “It’s really different from being the one who gives suggestions, then one who makes a decision.”
Mougey, 40, inherits eight recovery choices, including three in the first three laps: our 7, 42 and 73. He inherits more than that, of course. He has taken a situation immersed in losing (the jets have not had a winning season since 2015), and an organization that has failed to capitalize on the position of the Primo draft – seven best choices since 2015, tied to the second largest number.
“The thing that comes out with (Mougey) is all he has seen,” said Broncos Director of Broncos, George Paton, during the screening combination. “He is one of the Super Bowl teams, he was one of the reconstructions, he was one of everything else. … I always felt like a hidden gem, and I was surprised why the teams did not speak to him (for GM jobs).”
It is always a challenge for first -year GMs because the project quickly appears on the calendar. In the case of Mougey, he only had 90 days to prepare and merge his own philosophy (and that of coach Aaron Glenn) with information extracted from scouts who worked for Douglas.
It can be a heavy process with contradictory programs. Mougey described it as a “seamless” transition. He made two hires to play key roles – Senior Football Advisor Rick Spielman (former director general of Minnesota Vikings) and co -director of Robbie Paton players (former broncos scout), George’s nephew. They organized draft meetings from morning to night since April 7, also requesting comments from coaches staff while they were finalizing their consulting project.
Mougey is a joker because he has no stories, so it is difficult to predict how the jets attack this project. He was called “mixture” of Paton, the broncos coach Sean Payton and former director of the broncos and quarters of the renown temple John Elway – the three people he cited as the most influential of his career.
Here are some reflections and questions when approaching Mougey in the first round Thursday evening (8 p.m. HE on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN application):
Best player available vs need
Mougey called it “a secular question”, refusing to get started on each side of the debate. He recognized that the position traits (size, weight, length of the arm, speed, etc.) have a certain weight in the evaluation process and can be used as equality break in a decision to launch.
The tight winger Tyler Warren (Penn State), the balloon Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and the defensive Mason Graham (Michigan) platform are considered by many assessors as the first five prospects, and there is a good chance that we will always be available.
The tight and right platform can be their greatest needs, so that Warren can check the two boxes. If Mougey leans towards his offensive online needs, the choice could attack Armand Membou (Missouri) or to tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas). Banks is a late rising column. Many around the league expect the choice to be a tackle or a tight end.
Could they defend themselves in the first round?
Graham would be an intriguing option. Jets already have a 3 disturbing technique in Quinnen Williams, but Graham is the kind of player very motor coveted by Glenn in defensive mind.
At 6 feet 4 inches, 296 pounds, Graham is on the light side to be a tackle everyone on the jet front, according to some assessors. Another very well rated defender is the second Milk Walker (Georgia), a self -proclaimed “chess” which can play any secondary position and precipitate the smuggler.
Coin half Jahdae Barron (Texas), which was compared to the star of Detroit Lions, Brian Branch (a favorite from Glenn), was linked to the jets. However, it would be an upheaval if they went in this direction; The cornerback is one of their strongest positions.
Conclusion: it would be a slight surprise if they defend themselves, since the offensive is a lasting weakness – unless Graham and Walker are tried too good to pass.
And Jeanty?
He is really one of the draft elite players, but the meaning is that the jets will roll with Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis as a 3 -year field.
The Jeanty Buzz started last month when Glenn revealed his “committee” plan, fueling speculation that Hall – entering the last year of his recruit contract – could be available in a profession. With so many needs, it would be a questionable decision to write a ball carrier, already a solid position.
The QB question
It’s always a question for jets, right?
The atmosphere of One Jets Drive is that the organization is firmly behind Justin Fields and wants to give it a long track to be their long -term starter. Do not expect them to take a quarter of a quarter 1, although all bets are outside days 2 and 3. Tyler Shough (Louisville) stung their interest, but he might have left day 2.
Has anyone said “deal”?
Mougey, who replaces one of the most active merchants in the League in Douglas, comes from a known organization to exchange days 2 and 3. It will be interesting to see how – or if – Mougey maneuvered the table.
A successful project would be …
They should be able to find at least two immediate starters (right tackle and tight end), with others who can compete with the defensive tackle, safety and the wide receiver. It is a chance to infuse new profitable talents in a list that has become old and dear last season.
“I feel good in the list as a whole – offense, defense – but excited to add players through this project which, I think, will help us,” said Mougey. Ready or not, the spotlights are on him.
