The Jets’ search for a new general manager is beginning to heat up.
New York has four interviews lined up over the next several days. Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas remains at the top of the list, but the Jets are leaving their options open as they look to replace Mike Maccagnan.
There are plenty of suitable candidates for the job out there. We’ve discussed a couple of different options not included in the Jets first round of interviews. Among many things, the next general manager will need a strong background in scouting as well as roster construction of front office experience.
Here are four more potential general managers the Jets should target.
Adam Peters, San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel
Peters checks off two big boxes for the Jets — extensive scouting experience and a connection to Adam Gase. He spent eight seasons with the Broncos before being named the 49ers vice president of player personnel and has 16 years of NFL experience.
Gase and Peters joined the Broncos at the same time in 2009 and Peters quickly moved up the ranks of Denver’s scouting department. He eventually became the team’s director of college scouting in 2016, one year before he took the 49ers job.
Peters is only entering his second year with the 49ers, but he’s already proven to move quickly when opportunity knocks.
Eliot Wolf, Browns assistant general manager
Wolf is another candidate with tremendous experience in front offices and a strong football pedigree. His father, Ron, famously helped turn the Packers in perennial contenders before he retired in 2001. Wolf’s father also was the Jets’ personnel director from 1990-1991 and helped the Jets find, interview and hire Mike Maccagnan in 2015.
The younger Wolf began his career in Green Bay as a pro personnel assistant in 2004 and eventually moved up in the organization to become the Packers’ director of football operations in 2016. He was on a short list of general manager candidates in 2017, but ended up taking the assistant GM job with the Browns in 2018.
Dan Morgan, Bills director of player personnel
Morgan is a former player who is an up-and-comer among front office executives. After seven seasons at middle linebacker for the Panthers, Morgan worked his way up with the Seahawks from a scouting intern in 2010 to Seattle’s director of pro personnel.
The Bills hired Morgan as their director of player personnel in 2018. Morgan would be a risky hire considering his inexperience in the front office, but his quick ascent is promising.
Will McClay, Cowboys VP of player personnel
McClay has a unique background as a player, coach, and executive. He played in the Arena Football League for four seasons and coached in the AFL and XFL for 15 seasons before becoming the Cowboys pro scouting coordinator in 2008.
During his time in Dallas, McClay moved up the ranks and become a vital part of Jerry Jones’ front office before his promotion to vice president of player personnel in 2018. McClay’s unique background makes him an intriguing potential candidate.
