Now that the offseason is here, JetsFix management is at pains to point out that we are happy to accept content submissions from any and all JetsFixers to give us a well-earned day off from producing daily content. To that end, here’s our first guest post of 2025 from Sunset Boulevard. Be sure to let this guy know what you think once you’ve read it.
Introduction
Hope springs eternal in Jet land as we are undefeated in the offseason, securing the services of Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey as well as promises that they both intend to win, delighting Jets fans everywhere.
Despite his brief history as a scout, Aaron Glenn will likely cede much of the draft process over to Darren Mougey. In this article, I will look into the player acquisition history of the Broncos during his tenure to determine if there are any identifiable traits that can help us determine whether players in the upcoming 2025 draft fit the mold of players drafted by his former employer.
The obvious caveat is that Mougey was not the chief decision maker during this time with the Broncos, however, it is reasonable to assume that as assistant director of college scouting (2020) to director of player personnel (2021) to assistant general manager (2022 – 2024), he was deeply involved in the acquisition of players.
All drafted players and major free agency and trade acquisitions will be listed, as well as draft pick trades. Drafted players will be listed with their exceptional traits, defined as greater than 80th percentile (“Above”) or less than 20th percentile (“Below”), to determine which outlier traits were emphasized. Of note, all traits are derived from Mockdraftables.com and not all players engaged in all forms of testing.
Analysis: The 2020 free agency class was not assessed because as assistant director of college scouting, it is unlikely that Mougey would have any say in those acquisitions. The 2020 draft starts out with a positional double dip of wide receivers, both notably lacking in any standout physical traits. Many players drafted lack any exceptional traits, however, towards the later end of the draft you begin to see players drafted with several exceptional traits. It is possible that there is an emphasis on athleticism and plus traits in late round picks. There is a heavy offensive skew to this draft, with four pass catchers drafted.
2021 Free Agency Class
S Kareem Jackson one year deal
CB Kyle Fuller one year deal
S Justin Simmons one year deal after franchise tag
CB Ronald Darby 30/3
DE Shelby Harris 27/3
Trades: a 6th for Teddy Bridgewater | Von Miller for a 2nd and 3rd
Analysis: If the previous draft lacked exceptional traits, this one is the opposite. Surtain, Meinrerz, Browning, and Sterns paint the board with blue. In similar opposition, the lower drafted players of this cycle do not test out as well, which does not support the idea that the Broncos were highlighting physical trait laden late round picks. This offseason, however, does demonstrate another hammer approach to a particular position, with 8 (!) defensive backs signed or drafted to the team. There are small trade ups and trade downs with no significant effort being made to replace Von Miller 1:1.
2022 Free Agency Class
DE Randy Gregory 70/5
DT DJ Jones 30/3
LB Josey Jewell ?/?
CB K’Waun Willliams ?/2
LB Alex Singleton 1/1
S Kareem Jackson ?/1
Trades: QB Russell Wilson 245/5, two first round picks, two second round picks, one fifth round pick, QB Drew Lock, DL Shelby Harris, TE Noat Fant | Bradley Chubb and a 5th for a 1st, 4th
Analysis: It is possible that the massive trade for Russell Wilson would cause a change in the team’s priorities and that seems to play out with the first large free agency deal going to Randy Gregory and the top draft pick going to EDGE Nik Bonitto, likely to replace Von Miller and Bradley Chubb. All major free agency acquisitions otherwise are defensive players. There is another 1:1 replacement in Dulcich being drafted in place of the outgoing Noah Fant. In this draft class, it is appreciable that nonmodifiable traits are clearly not dealbreakers, as almost all of the drafted players with any recorded measurements have a height, hand size, or wing span below the 20th percentile.
2023 Free Agency Class
RB Samaje Perine ?/2
G Ben Powers 52/4
OT Mike McGlinchey 87.5/5
QB Jarrett Stidham 10/2
LB Alex Singleton 18/3
DE Zach Allen 47/75/3
Trades: Randy Gregory and a 7th for Michael Jerrell and a 6th | Albert Okwuegbunam for a 6th, | a 7th for Will Litz | a 6th for Adam Trautman and a 7th
Analysis: The reverberations of the Russell Wilson cataclysm are felt here. The Broncos make two more big offseason deals to shore up their offensive line and add a new head coach. Several underperforming players are shipped out for pennies on the dollar. At this point, it was clear that Russell Wilson was only on the team because the team could not afford to jettison him and it is reasonable to wonder if this is applicable to the set up Mougey might take with the Jets, with or without Rodgers. This is neither an all in offseason or a blow up, but rather a retooling while they prepare to move on from Wilson.
2024 Free Agency Class
WR Josh Reynolds 14/2
LB Cody Barton ?/1
K Will Lutz ?/?
Trades: Jerry Jeudy for a 5th and 6th | a 6th for JFM | Baron Browning for a 6th
Analysis: The Broncos continue to draft players with notable nonmodifiable deficiencies and few of their players, whether at the top or bottom, are truly SPARQ freaks. The trades for players and picks continue to be at the margins. Led by Bo Nix alongside the coaching and offensive line acquired in the previous year, the Broncos earn a playoff berth.
Takeaways:
- The Broncos engaged in several instances of hammer acquisitions where one position was emphasized with multiple draft picks and free agent pick-ups, often in one year deals. It is possible that this configuration was done so that these positions would have short term starters with long term developmental options left behind them.
- There are no disqualifying physical measurements. 20/38 players drafted had at least one unmodifiable measurement that ranked below the 20th percentile for their position.
- Skill positions are king. 4/7 first or second round picks were skill position players and one of the remainder was Bo Nix. Only two offensive linemen were drafted in the first three rounds over the five recorded years.
- If there is an athletic prerequisite for any position, it is EDGE. With the exception of Jonah Ellis, all drafted EDGE players have exceptional traits in the explosive categories.
- Free agency deals were overwhelmingly conservative. Mike McGlinchey, Ben Powers, and Randy Gregory were the only free agent megadeals made during the four year period examined, showcasing that the Broncos preferred not to build through free agency. Of note, while not a signing, the Russell Wilson and Sean Payton deals could easily be included in this category and change the perception.
- Draft day trades were largely minor. The Broncos did not make any large trade ups or trade downs but engaged in minor moves in both directions.
- Both running backs drafted by the Broncos were good but not great athletes.
- A cornerback was taken in every draft.
- Bo Nix was the only quarterback drafted over the course of five years. Even considering the Russell Wilson and Jarrett Stidham acquisitions, the Broncos did not add late round flyers at the quarterback position.
- Are there any connections you identified?