After settling on former Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn as their new head coach just a couple of day ago, the Jets have reportedly picked their next GM in Broncos exec Darren Mougey. This, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson. The report is yet to be confirmed by the team.
A former college quarterback who backed up Vikings coach Kevin ‘O Connell at San Diego State before moving to wide receiver. He would have a couple of brief stints in the NFL with the Falcons and Cardinals as a wideout before fizzling out.
Mougey has been with the Broncos in a variety of roles for over a decade. Hired by former Broncos great John Elway to work as a scouting intern. He would work his way up to scouting assistant in 2013 and before taking on the role of pro personnel scout one year before being elevated to an area scout. It was a life he admitted he missed living when speaking with DenverBroncos.com back in 2022.
“Having come up in the building as an intern, having done pro scouting and then getting on the road as an area scout and then over the top scout and really growing through the college ranks, I definitely have an appreciation and a different perspective now in the seat that I’m at for those college guys, having gone through that,”
After five years working the road, Mougey was promoted to the team’s director of college scouting. The following season, upon adding George Paton as their GM, Mougey was promoted once again, this time to director of player personnel where he would oversee both the college and pro scouting sides of the house.
Paton said it was watching Mougey work at the Senior Bowl that made him stand out in his eyes, telling DenverBroncos.com that “His organizational skills, his detail, his ability to manage people. He had a great feel, obviously, for the draft. He was on the college side. I thought he was one of the better evaluators I’ve been around. And so he shined quickly. I thought we had a really good staff when I got here, but he stood out.”
Now in coming to the Jets, Gang Green is hoping Mougey will stand out at 1 Jets Drive as well. There are plenty of key decisions on the horizon for the first-time GM. What to do with Aaron Rodgers. If he stays, can you afford to do it with his new deal of should Mougey insist on another pay cut?
Then of course there’s the Garrett Wilson issue. One of the game’s most dynamic young receivers who appeared to sour on the idea of being a Jet for the long-term. And what about Sauce Gardner and Breece Hall? Both eligible for extensions this off-season.
There will be those decisions and plenty more for Mougey to make a decision on as he prepares to show he’s ready for the task of building an NFL contender.
