New York Jets center Connor McGovern played like one of the better centers in the NFL a year ago with the Denver Broncos.
Wesley Johnson, Spencer Long, Ryan Kalil (Jonotthan Harrison still remains) are the last three individuals to try their hand at the New York Jets center position and fail. What Nick Mangold brought to the table starting in 2006 is something very few humans can replace.
The Jets are hoping a certain free-agent acquisition will help fill that void in 2020.
Connor McGovern will now be the man to call out the Mike and lead the offensive line in front of Sam Darnold after signing a three-year, $27 million deal this past offseason ($18 million guaranteed).
McGovern, 27, is set to enter his third NFL season. Drafted in the fifth round out of Missouri back in 2016, he played a solid brand of center for the Broncos over three seasons, eventually winning the starting job later in his rookie season.
The wildest McGovern statistic surrounds the laundry. The man wasn’t penalized once in 1,013 snaps a year ago.
Most of the #Jets' signings so far have done a great job limiting penalties
2019:
McGovern: 0 penalties over 1,013 snaps
Christian: 1 / 727 (D + ST)
Fant: 1 / 539
GVR: 2 / 704
Maulet: 2 / 349
Jenkins: 2 / 572
Desir: 4 / 683All of those rates were below positional avg in 2019
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) March 24, 2020
While he’s yet to qualify for a Pro Bowl, he possesses Pro Bowl-type ability that could eventually be recognized if playing as part of a tremendous five-man unit.
Alongside other newcomers such as Greg Van Roten, George Fant and Mekhi Becton, Joe Douglas hopes that Pro Bowl season comes in 2020. Or, at the very least, fans can start to believe somebody’s at least halfway up to the task of replacing the legend on and off the field out of Ohio State, Nick Mangold.
