Former Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum had a knack for strategic hires and trades, which is something the current Jets leadership might want to emulate. Tannenbaum played a key role in bringing Darren Mougey on board as the new general manager and Aaron Glenn as the head coach. Now it’s time for Mougey and Glenn to perhaps take a leaf out of Tannenbaum’s own insightful playbook.
Let’s revisit a smart move by Tannenbaum back in 2009. He capitalized on Eric Mangini’s familiarity with the Jets roster. At the time, Mangini had moved on to coach the Browns, but his knowledge of certain Jets players worked to Tannenbaum’s advantage. This connection allowed Tannenbaum to execute two savvy trades. The first was maneuvering from the 17th to the 5th spot in the NFL draft, landing quarterback Mark Sanchez without too hefty a draft pick price. Then, in a separate deal later that October, he brought in wide receiver Braylon Edwards.
Fast forward to the present day. The Jets have a similar opportunity with two former head coaches, Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich, now part of other NFL teams. Saleh has taken up the role of defensive coordinator for the 49ers, while Ulbrich has stepped into a similar position with the Falcons.
This situation poses an intriguing question: Could Mougey utilize players that have caught the attention of Saleh or Ulbrich to gain favorable trades with reduced draft pick expenditure? The potential is there for strategic trades that could mirror the impactful decisions of Tannenbaum’s era.
