The last time the New York Jets cracked the postseason, Mike Tannenbaum was the squad’s general manager.
Well over a decade later, the team is looking to break its dreadful playoff drought with GM Darren Mougey at the helm, whom Tannenbaum helped hire last offseason.
Speaking to The New York Post, Tannenbaum cited several reasons for optimism about the team’s future.
“I think they’re going the right direction,” he said, lauding the “outstanding” offensive line with tackles Armand Membou and Olu Fashanu.
The promising component of the Jets’ offensive line is that they are still young and ascending, particularly at tackle.
Membou is entering his second year in the NFL after an excellent rookie campaign. Fashanu is entering his second year as the team’s full-time starting LT and is in a great spot to fully break out.
Everything runs through the offensive line. If you have a successful front five, you not only win the trench battle but also significantly open up the running and passing games, providing sizeable boosts in both areas.
Look at Breece Hall, who set a career high in rushing yards (1,065) last season, playing behind a competent line for the first time in his career.
Furthermore, Tannenbaum is a fan of the team’s draft class.
“They’re [the Jets] building it the smart way long-term. To have three first-round picks, arguably two years in a row, that is really, really rare,” Tannenbaum said.
Overall, the Jets are banking heavily on their four top 50 selections to play a large role in their rookie seasons, with all of David Bailey, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper Jr., and D’Angelo Ponds expected to take on hefty workloads right away.
Tannenbaum believes the Jets are on the right track, and on paper, the organization has made cohesive offseason moves. Now, though, the team needs to execute and prove the ESPN pundit right.
