For Jets GM Darren Mougey, it's his first time making final call on draft picks

It’s Darren Mougey’s show now.

Mougey, the Jets’ first-time general manager, has been a part of many NFL Drafts in his 13 seasons working for the Broncos. This is his first time leading the process, putting together the board and making the final call on who the Jets will draft.

Mougey admitted there may be some butterflies. He expects them to give way to excitement as he continues to work on and build the Jets’ roster.

“I’m sure there will be some nerves and it’s definitely different being the one that gives suggestions and then the one that makes decisions,” Mougey said. “That’s a different feeling. But I feel really good about the work we’ve put in.”

Mougey was the Broncos’ assistant general manager the past three seasons and spent the prior 10 in Denver’s scouting and personnel departments. He’s learned from the likes of John Elway, George Paton and Sean Payton. Mougey said he brings a little bit of each of them to this draft.

“Once you get in that room with all the coaches and the scouts and you start doing it, you’re just lost back in the room like it’s been the last 13 years,” Mougey said.

Aaron Glenn will be Mougey’s right-hand man this weekend. It’s Glenn’s first time as a head coach, but he began his post-playing days in the NFL as a scout with the Jets.

Glenn had some say in who the Lions drafted on one side of the football the previous four years as their defensive coordinator. This is his first time overseeing the whole team, but Glenn is confident that he’s ready for it.

“I’ve been prepping myself for about seven to eight years to be able to do this year,” Glenn said. “I spent as much time looking at offense that I did defense. So I’m looking forward to the draft.”

The Jets go into Thursday’s draft with eight picks overall. Their needs are right tackle, tight end, receiver, defensive tackle and safety.

They have the No. 7 pick in the first round and two second-day picks (Nos. 42 and 73 overall). The expectation is they will take an offensive player at 7 — either someone to protect Justin Fields or a versatile weapon for the Jets’ new quarterback.

Missouri right tackle Armand Membou would be a safe and smart pick if he’s available when the Jets select. There are other tackles the Jets could consider if they’re there when they pick, including LSU’s Will Campbell — who could be gone — and Texas’ Kelvin Banks. He is from Humble, Texas, the same town as Glenn.

“I think you’re going to be in a good spot there to get somebody that comes right in and makes an impact and starts,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “They could kind of put the finishing piece on the offensive line with someone like Membou. He’d be comfortable just plugging right in at right tackle.”

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren (6-5 1⁄2, 256 pounds) might be too good to pass up, though. He would give the Jets’ offense a different dimension with his size and ability to line up in multiple positions.

Warren caught, rushed and threw for touchdowns last season. He was second in the nation with 104 catches.

Glenn and new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand came from Detroit where the tight end was a focal part of the offense. Engstrand is also a former tight ends coach.

“If they want to stay best available and stay true to the board, I would take Tyler Warren,” Jeremiah said.

If the Jets decide to go defense, Michigan tackle Mason Graham, Georgia edge rusher Jalon Walker and Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron are possibilities.

Mougey said he would call the other 31 teams and “talk about potentially moving,” which is the norm. If nothing happens, Mougey said the Jets will “kind of let the board fall to us and just add players that we think can help us, good football players.”

Glenn said the Jets want to “build this team the way that we need to put it in our image.” That image, according to Mougey, is players who are “smart, tough, aggressive, resilient.”

It’s up to Mougey now to find them.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.