One of the key pieces to the Jets' offensive line rebuild under GM Joe Douglas is the addition of Connor McGovern, likely to be the team's starting center come next season.
Originally a fifth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2016, McGovern went on to start 36 games with Denver, showcasing the ability to play both guard and center.
Shortly after the new league year began, Douglas and the Jets swooped in and inked McGovern to a three-year deal, and during his introductory conference call with reporters on Friday, McGovern explained why the Jets made so much sense for him.
"They're really starting to build something special," McGovern said on the call. "They have the quarterback and running back. They now have the offensive line and the Jets always have the defense.
"They're a team that I thought had the opportunity to win a lot of football games. Now with the conference being a little shook up from a team standpoint, I think here's a real opportunity to win a lot of games and definitely get to the playoffs and get pretty deep in the playoffs and hopefully win the Super Bowl. The most important thing and the reason I'm with the Jets is I think they've got the coaches and the players to win a Super Bowl."
After the call, McGovern then expanded on those high hopes a bit, telling SNY's Jeane Coakley that the Jets' young core is only going to improve in the years to come.
"I think they're a team that's going to win a lot of football games," said McGovern. "Such a solid, good, young core. I think it's a team that's going to be together a long time, and a team that's together a long time builds the relationships you need to win a lot of football games.
"When you've got a young talent like Sam Darnold back there throwing the ball around and leading the team, you have the opportunity to win a lot of games. You have the opportunity to grow together. … You've got a guy like Le'Veon Bell back there. At any point he can take the ball to the crib. He can break that arm tackle, he can juke that last guy to make some special plays. … The way they've built that offensive line, I think we're going to do something special."
McGovern is just one of a handful of moves made along Gang Green's offensive line this offseason. The team also signed George Fant, likely to start at left tackle, brought in Greg Van Roten to play right guard, and brought back Alex Lewis for the left guard spot.
The man in the middle of the line is confident that the group can come together quickly as new unit.
"Most of us are coming in from different situations, different teams, and it's not a bunch of young guys that have never done it before," said McGovern. "It's a bunch of guys that have been on the cusp of winning some serious football games and have been on some great offensive lines, so I think we'll all bring our pieces together and we'll build something special.
"It won't take long at all for us to really jell and to become that cohesive unit. It's going to take a little bit of work, we might have to do a couple extra dinners here and there, hang out at somebody's house a little more than usual, but I don't know, it sounds like a good time to me. I'm excited about it."