5 takeaways from the Jets' Aaron Glenn at the NFL meetings

Aaron Glenn generated headlines — and some snickers — when he said Geno Smith is “the guy that’s going to lead us to the promised land.” That statement overshadowed many other topics that the Jets’ coach covered during his sit-down with reporters at the NFL’s annual meetings.

Here are some takeaways:

1. Consumed with  resurrecting the Jets

Glenn, who played eight seasons for the Jets, spoke passionately about wanting to be the coach who ends the franchise’s playoff drought — currently at 15 years — and builds a perennial winning team. He said he thinks about it “every day.”

The Jets went 3-14 in Glenn’s first season. Making the playoffs might be the only way to ensure that he gets a third season — and he’s all-in on reaching that goal.

“I want to leave a legacy,” Glenn said. “I’m looking at this team being a team that consistently puts themselves in a place to win. But every day. It’s not a day, it’s not an hour, it’s not a minute, I don’t think about that. I look forward to trying to make that happen, I really do.”

2. With the second pick . . .

It would be surprising if the Jets didn’t draft an edge rusher (Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey) with the No. 2 pick. But Glenn believes in taking the best player available.

“If you love the player, go get the player, regardless of positional value,” he said.

Reese had only 6 1⁄2 sacks for Ohio State, but his athleticism, potential and measurables are impressive. Glenn compared Reese to the Texans’ Danielle Hunter, a five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.

Glenn said you have to evaluate traits such as “arm length, weight, speed, ankle flexion” and whether the player has “the football character” to be coached hard to bring the most out of him.

Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey attended pro days at Ohio State, Texas Tech and Miami last week. Mougey said “there’s still a lot of work to be done” regarding the No. 2 pick and that they’ll “fire up our meetings next week and have a lot of good discussions.”

3. Adding adults

A lack of veteran leadership last season led to the acquisitions of linebacker Demario Davis, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and defensive tackle David Onyemata.

Glenn worked with Davis and Onyemata previously, and new defensive coordinator Brian Duker coached Fitzpatrick with Miami. Glenn wanted veterans who can “teach these guys exactly how does the locker room need to operate and how do you finish our games.”

“When you start to add guys like that, it only helps what you’re trying to create when it comes to a team,” Glenn said. “All those guys that we added in free agency bring a certain level of adult to our team that we need.”

4. Taylor made for success

Glenn expects big things from second-year tight end Mason Taylor, who caught 44 passes for 369 yards in 13 games as a rookie.

“I think Mason’s going to have a hell of a year,” he said.

Glenn feels good about a potential breakout season after speaking with Taylor and his father, Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor. He said he had “one of the realest conversations” with Mason Taylor during his January exit meeting.

According to Glenn, Taylor talked about areas that he wanted to work on and improve. He said Taylor “was very adamant” about that and asked Glenn to hold him accountable.

“You’re going to see him take another step,” Glenn said. “I’m excited about that player.”

5. AG and AI

The Jets have been talking “quite a bit” in their coaches’ meetings about utilizing artificial intelligence.

Glenn said assistant quarterbacks coach Thomas Merkle and assistant offensive line coach Al Netter — both worked with offensive coordinator Frank Reich at Stanford — have been driving the AI conversations.

“We’re trying to take that next step, us as coaches,” Glenn said.

It’s unclear how the Jets are using AI other than gathering information. “It’s shocking to see the information,” Glenn said, adding that “being able to move efficiently and faster has been really good for us.”

When Glenn was jokingly asked about using AI to decide what plays to call, he said, “No. I’m trusting myself on that.”

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.