Content available exclusively for subscribers
There needs to be 100 percent blunt force trauma in Jets personnel meetings moving forward.
GM Darren Mougey, in his press conference today, was asked about the trades for DT Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs and how much that helped the team.
The Jets just gave up 211 yards rushing, a lot of it up the middle, in their loss to Buffalo.
We need to stop the hyperbole.
If the Jets have any chance of turning things around in 2026, there has to be 100 percent honesty at all times in personnel meetings.
No smoke blowing.
I will give Mougey credit, even though the question was meant to praise Briggs, he probably knows darn well the praise is a little over the top.
“Cleveland had some good depth, so we were able to acquire Briggs, and I think he’s been positive for us, and he’s got some developing and growth still to come,” Mougey said.
Yes “developing and growth” is needed. Like against the run.
Buffalo was playing a lot of backup offensive linemen and ran all over the Jets, including RB Ray Davis, going for 151 yards, with a lot up the middle, obviously not all at Briggs and Phillips, but plenty was.
The point here is simple – let’s stop the BS.
Briggs is a perfect rotational DT who can come in to spell the starters.
But if the Jets have any hope of turning this around, there can’t be any confirmation bias, there can’t be any heartstrings where you fall in love with the humans, and it impacts the evaluation of the film.
The Jets’ defense is broken. Big-time.
They might need 8-9 new starters.
The three best moves by Glenn/Mougey in Year 1 – picking offensive tackle Armand Membou in the first round, and the trades of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, bringing in three first-round picks, and a second. And a lot of that draft capital has to be used to fix the defense.
People will be quick to say what about the trades for Adonai Mitchell (in the Williams deal) and John Metchie from Philly as far as good moves by Glenn/Mougey.
Those moves were fine, but the Jets’ passing offense was anemic before they arrived, and after. You can find receivers. Brandon Smith was terrific last summer, but never got a chance.
Once again, it’s good for the Jets that they got Mitchell and Metchie in the building, two talented wideouts, but I’m not going to sit here and go crazy about the additions because if you review the body of work for the Jets’ passing offense this year, it was substandard.
Partly because of some dubious decisions at the QB position, including showing Aaron Rodgers the door and then signing Justin Fields to a two-year deal for $40 million with $30 million guaranteed. The contract was so over-the-top, you’d love to know what the thinking was.
I finally got a chance to ask Mougey about this contract on Tuesday. Not sure he’s ever been asked about that contract before. It was tough getting questions in today because the press conference wasn’t long enough for a season-ending presser, and a guy in the front row seemed to ask half the questions.
Here is what Mougey said:
“I think that’s a good question, I understand the question,” Mougey said. “We had a clear vision for Justin and a good plan. Now obviously, the season didn’t go as planned and that’s for many reasons. There’s not one person, player, coach, system of why we ended winning three games, but that’s part of this week’s process, it’s us diving in and really reflecting on the season and the lessons learned moving forward.”
“The lessons moving forward” include being careful doling out profligate contracts in a cap sport. If Mac Jones got 8 million over two years for San Francisco, what on earth would lead the Jets to give Fields, who had a 14-30 record when they signed him, $40 million over two years with $30 million guaranteed?
So here is the deal with the four premium draft picks this year, two in the first round, and two in the second – one QB, three defenders.
This was the worst Jets defense I’ve ever covered.
And they better be careful with their two edge-rusher contracts – don’t downplay the film, which seemed to be the case with Sherwood last year, and back up the brink’s truck.
They need to acquire two new starting linebackers, two new starting safeties, and two new starting defensive tackles (Briggs and Phillips can serve as the two backups). I won’t go through the whole list, but you get the idea.
While they could use a corner, you could make an argument that they aren’t in terrible shape there with Brandon Stephens and AZ Thomas on the outside and Jarvis Brownlee in the slot.
But the bottom line is, – if Glenn wants to survive to see Year 3, he better use blunt force trauma in the film room, throw away all rose-colored glasses, and eschew confirmation bias.
Like the love affair with the Texas A&M defensive end, who struggled shedding blocks and setting the edge. This situation was the poster child for a personnel evaluation process that needs tweaking and more honesty.
January 6, 2026
Premium will return by 9:30 pm (or sooner) on Thursday. No Wednesday update this week since there was a Tuesday update after a Sunday game
