Darren Mougey is on the board.
The New York Jets’ new general manager has made his first transaction since taking over the job. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the Jets are signing veteran fullback Andrew Beck to a one-year contract.
Beck, who will turn 29 in May, has six seasons of NFL experience. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2019. After being waived as part of final roster cuts, Beck was claimed by the Denver Broncos, where he found a home for four seasons. From 2019-22, Beck played 51 games (10 starts) for Denver, logging 14 receptions, 159 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. He also had three rushes for three yards.
It is noteworthy that Mougey’s first signing in New York is a player with ties to him. Mougey was a member of the Broncos’ staff throughout Beck’s entire tenure. When Beck was signed in 2019, Mougey was an area scout. Over the following three years, Mougey ascended to assistant director of college scouting (2020), director of player personnel (2021), and assistant general manager (2022).
Beck joined the Houston Texans in 2023, playing 15 games with 12 starts. He caught 11-of-13 targets for 55 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for a touchdown, helping Houston win the AFC South and advance to the divisional round of the playoffs.
In 2024, Beck was waived as part of Houston’s final roster cuts. He signed with the Packers’ practice squad and played three games in the regular season. Later that season, Beck returned to Houston, playing one game. He started in Houston’s divisional playoff loss to Kansas City.
New York’s decision to sign an experienced fullback could provide us with an early signal of their philosophical vision on offense. The Jets did not employ a fullback in the 2024 regular season; their last pure fullback was Nick Bawden in 2023. The addition of Beck may be a sign that New York plans to reintegrate the position under new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who comes from a run-heavy Detroit Lions scheme that prioritizes play action and heavy personnel packages.
