NY Jets believed to have 'dodged a bullet' by passing on Lance Newmark

The NY Jets officially completed their extensive search for a new general manager last week with the hiring of now-former Denver Broncos assistant GM Darren Mougey.

Mougey interviewed twice with the Jets and emerged as one of three finalists for the job late last week before the team ultimately hired him. While the Jets appear to be very happy with Mougey now, he wasn't the obvious candidate from the start.

That man was Washington Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark, who seemed like a near-lock for the Jets GM job this time a week ago. Newmark interviewed with the Jets on the same day as Aaron Glenn and most assumed the two were a package deal.

Instead, the Jets expanded their GM search shortly after interviewing Newmark and turned to Mougey. Many around the NFL seem to believe that was a wise decision.

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The NY Jets may be better off without Lance Newmark

Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reported on Sunday that many around the league believe the Jets "dodged a bullet" by not hiring Newmark. There are reportedly concerns about his overall body of work despite his recent success in Detroit and Washington.

Newmark originally joined the Lions as a player personnel assistant in 1998 and would spend the next 25+ years working with the organization, first as a scout before working his way up to the role of senior director of player personnel.

He'd leave to join new Commanders general manager Adam Peters in Washington last offseason as the team's new GM and was praised for his role in the organization's quick turnaround.

Newmark has been a part of two of the most successful transformations in recent NFL history with the Lions and Commanders, but some seem to be concerned about his work with Detroit before GM Brad Holmes assumed power.

Newmark played a significant role in Detroit’s front office during some of the franchise’s toughest years. While he gained experience across multiple personnel roles, the Lions' draft success was inconsistent for much of his tenure.

Some believe that Newmark essentially hitched his wagon to the successful regimes of Holmes and Peters and parlayed their success into a general manager candidacy. Perhaps the Jets feel the same way after passing on him.

After all, Newmark was the odds-on favorite to land the Jets general manager job. He was the only candidate initially brought in for a second interview until the Jets decided to go in a different direction.

Newmark clearly didn't endear himself to Woody Johnson and the Jets in that in-person interview. The team ultimately chose Darren Mougey, and early signs from around the NFL suggest they made the right call.

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