Darren Mougey's master plan could deliver the Jets' next franchise QB

The general consensus after the New York Jets turned the NFL world on its head at the trade deadline is that the team is gearing up to select its next franchise quarterback in the NFL Draft.

This isn't a shock, of course. Justin Fields was always meant to be a stopgap. But the club amassing a stockpile of draft picks, including five first-rounders and three second-rounders, over the next two years opens the door for them to move up the board to get the quarterback of their dreams, should such a move be necessary.

The strategy isn't new for New York. The Jets sent a haul to the Indianapolis Colts to select Sam Darnold back in 2018, for example, but this time things are different. Very different.

The Jets have put the infrastructure in place to make their next hotshot young QB a success story

While a lot goes into a young quarterback being successful, perhaps the most important factor is the quality of his supporting cast upon arrival. Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders is a prime example of this, while Zach Wilson was the epitome of the opposite.

It might be Darnold who exemplifies this the best. Playing behind a porous offensive line, the former third-overall pick's top receiver was Robbie Chosen (formerly Anderson), while Isaiah Crowell was brought in to be the lead back, and fourth-round rookie Chris Herndon was his safety blanket at tight end. In other words, yuck.

Now, though, Darnold is one of the most effective quarterbacks in the league, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 6-2 record thus far in 2025.

Many don't get the chance to bounce back like Darnold did, though, and the MetLife turf is something of a burial ground where promising young quarterbacks' careers go to die.

This time, though, things are set up differently. While it appears on the surface that Darren Mougey was willing to listen to all offers at the deadline in his attempt at a total teardown, the reality is more nuanced.

Mougey secretly structured Sauce Gardner's contract extension in a way that he'd be easy to move for a haul should the opportunity present itself. Meanwhile, he made Garrett Wilson untouchable. This wasn't simply a fire sale to accumulate as many picks as possible, but a calculated effort to shift assets to create a more prosperous future.

A rookie quarterback will be entering a situation where he'll already have a No. 1 wideout, and potentially more if either Adonai Mitchell or John Metchie III proves to be a diamond in the rough. He'll also have two franchise tackles and a promising young tight end in Mason Taylor.

If Mougey can extend Breece Hall, the foundation is there for a fantastic supporting cast to springboard a rookie signal caller to success. If the Jets secure the No. 1 pick in next year's draft, they'll be sitting pretty to snag their preferred field general should one in this class strike their fancy.

Then, with all that excess capital, they can continue fortifying the weapons and support around him. That won't guarantee success, but it's the closest they can possibly get.

After failing at developing young quarterbacks for what seems like an eternity, the Jets have put themselves in the ideal position to nurture one for the first time in what feels like forever. And that was Darren Mougey's master plan all along.