Darren Mougey has quietly mastered a massive Jets offseason strategy

Prolonged losing, especially for organizations like the New York Jets, breeds desperation and catastrophe. 

How many times have we seen the Jets, Browns, or Jaguars gamble on the wrong players, whether it’s through the draft or taking a second chance on talented players with a history of off-field incidents?

Talent, and the thought that you can fix someone, sometimes wins out. Look no further than the Browns taking Johnny Manziel in 2014. 

To his credit, Jets general manager Darren Mougey has tried to stay away from those who, regardless of their track record or draft pedigree, might not fit the culture Mougey and Aaron Glenn are building. 

Darren Mougey and the Jets are avoiding players with off-field risks

I suggest that you look at the Jets’ roster, and then glance at a list of remaining free agents. 

You’ll notice that the Jets haven’t been linked to Justin Tucker or Stefon Diggs, both of whom are still available. 

As for ex-Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold, the Jets reportedly were interested following his release. However, there is no indication that they’ll sign him ahead of training camp. 

Although Tucker hasn’t played since 2024, he’s one of the greatest kickers in league history. The 32-year-old Diggs proved last year that he can still contribute at a high level. 

And as much as some Jets fans might not want to hear it, Mougey and Aaron Glenn are doing the right thing by remaining far away. 

For whatever reason, it seems like we’re hearing teams and media members avoid using the dreaded D word, “distraction,” when referencing those with character concerns or off-field issues. 

But let’s call things what they are: those three, as well as ex-Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby had he been available, would be distractions. 

To be clear, I’m not saying that those with legal issues should automatically be blacklisted from the NFL. Every situation is different. 

The Jets, as a franchise, are not at a point where they can endure a distraction. They don’t have a Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid or Tom Brady-Bill Belichick combination. 

The best teams, those with stability and leadership in the locker room, know how to survive that kind of storm. 

Obviously, the goal is to win. The Jets haven’t even had a winning record since 2015, and they regularly have a top-10 pick. 

Diggs would make the offense better, and Tucker is likely still an upgrade over Jason Sanders. No one is arguing otherwise. 

Kudos to Mougey and Glenn for prioritizing development over risk, though. Perhaps things will work out after all.

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