Will Darren Mougey help end the Jets' suffering?

After a months-long search, the New York Jets hired former Denver Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey a few weeks ago to fill their open GM position. Will the 39-year-old finally stabilize the front office?

Gang Green went through three different GMs over the past decade, and now they're taking a risk with a younger executive. Mougey is the youngest Jets GM since then-36-year-old Mike Tannenbaum was hired a week before his birthday in 2006. Tannenbaum, now 56, aided the organization's search this time.

However, Mougey is well-qualified. The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt listed qualities that people around the league noted about the San Diego State alum before he was hired, citing his intelligence, relationship-building skills and background in college and professional scouting. He worked his way up the Broncos organization, starting as a scouting intern in 2012 before becoming a personnel and scouting assistant, area scout, assistant director of college scouting, director of player personnel and assistant GM.

"People around the league feel he's ready for a GM opp.," Rosenblatt wrote.

Mougey succeeds Joe Douglas, who left behind a talented but flawed roster. New York has a few high-end players, including wideout Garrett Wilson, running back Breece Hall, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and cornerback Sauce Gardner. However, the new regime's decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers leaves a quarterback vacancy.

It makes sense for Mougey and new head coach Aaron Glenn to start with a clean slate at the game's most important position, especially since Rodgers is 41. Jets fans must hope that he learned from his Denver days, though, as the Broncos passed on Wyoming alum Josh Allen with the fifth overall pick in the 2018 draft. Mougey was the Western regional scout at the time, so it's fair to wonder if he slept on the 2024 NFL MVP.

The Broncos finally ended their quarterback carousel this past season with the selection of Bo Nix at No. 12 overall. Mougey admitted that after their failed trades (Russell Wilson, Joe Flacco) and free-agent signings (Case Keenum) at the position, it's difficult to find "The Guy," via ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"We've kind of done it every way — trade for a guy, draft a guy, draft another guy," he said. "I learned a lot. I learned a lot that I'm going to take with me to this situation here."

Finding the right signal-caller is only part of the way to end New York's 14-year playoff drought, which is the longest in North American sports. However, it's the most important piece of the mission, and Mougey claims to have learned from his prior organization's errors. That's not a guarantee that he won't flounder with the Jets, but it at least shows self-reflection and accountability, which are good first steps.