New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey has shown a willingness to reshuffle the roster through deals, and one league insider is advising close attention to potential activity as the team prepares for training camp.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini recently pointed to Mougey’s track record and the areas where the Jets could seek upgrades this summer.
“Darren Mougey is a proactive general manager who has made 13 player trades in the past 12 months. What’s up his sleeve this summer? They could use help at safety, quarterback (depth), linebacker (depth), and offensive line (depth). The player with the most trade value is edge rusher Will McDonald IV , and he could spark some interest from teams, as he did before last season’s trade deadline. In terms of contract extensions, it should be a quiet summer. Mougey got his work done early, locking up running back Breece Hall and guard Joe Tippmann ,” Cimini wrote.
Mougey’s history of completing a high volume of player transactions in a short span has established him as someone who rarely sits still when opportunities arise. Teams around the league have taken notice of that approach, which could open doors for conversations in the coming weeks.
At safety, the Jets already have a clear starter in Minkah Fitzpatrick. Beyond that spot, the group mixes veterans, younger players, a recent draft pick and a second-year prospect still working to establish himself.
The organization would prefer to see Malachi Moore take a significant step forward in his second season and claim the role opposite Fitzpatrick. Should that development fall short of expectations, exploring outside options could become a priority for the front office.
Offensive line depth presents another challenge. Finding quality linemen willing to be traded is rarely straightforward, as clubs tend to hold onto those players when they have extras available. Last season the Jets leaned on the same five offensive linemen for the entire year. Repeating that kind of continuity would be unusual, raising the possibility that Mougey keeps an eye on any unexpected availability in the market.
The quarterback room has drawn steady discussion throughout the offseason. Depth behind the starter remains a talking point, and the team continues evaluating its options there. Rookie Cade Klubnik enters camp with a chance to lock down the primary backup job. If he struggles to separate himself in the early practices and preseason work, the Jets may look elsewhere for additional experience at the position.
Linebacker depth rounds out the list of potential needs Cimini identified. While the starter group appears set, adding another reliable body could provide insurance as the physical demands of a full season mount.
Edge rusher Will McDonald IV stands out as the Jet most likely to draw outside interest because of his talent and remaining upside. Calls about him have come in before, including ahead of last year’s trade deadline. Moving McDonald before the regular season begins would come as a surprise.
Such a deal earlier in the offseason would have given the team more time to address the resulting gap through the draft or free agency. The more realistic window for any serious discussion involving McDonald would arrive closer to the midseason trade deadline.
If the Jets find themselves with a disappointing record and looking toward the future, shipping the pass rusher to a contending club could make sense. Should the team perform well and stay in the playoff mix, keeping McDonald would help maintain the pass-rush rotation and support continued success.
The Jets remain optimistic that he can unlock more of his potential during the 2026 campaign. Contract talks are expected to stay quiet this summer after Mougey secured long-term deals with Hall and Tippmann earlier.
That early work leaves the general manager freer to focus on roster construction through possible trades rather than extension negotiations.
As training camp gets underway, all eyes will stay on Mougey to see whether his pattern of proactive moves continues or whether the current group remains intact heading into the season.
