With Aaron Rodgers now under center for the Jets, the team has been busy adding wide receivers to their roster. Naturally, that’s led some to question Corey Davis‘ future with the organization, but coach Robert Saleh told reporters yesterday that the veteran wideout would be sticking with the Jets (per Connor Hughes of SNYtv on Twitter).
The Jets inked Davis to a three-year, $37.5MM deal back in 2021, but the receiver hasn’t necessarily lived up to his contract. Davis has appeared in 22 games with the Jets over the past two years, hauling in 66 catches for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns. The Jets could have cleared around $10MM in cap space by moving on from the former fifth-overall pick, but Saleh noted that Davis will have a role on offense in 2023.
“Again, the cool thing with what [offensive coordinator] Nathaniel [Hackett‘s] bringing and this whole system is there is a lot of versatility amongst the receivers in terms of them being able to play multiple spots,” Saleh said (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “The one thing when Corey got hurt last year, we got small pretty quick, if you guys remember.”
The Jets have been busy adding some of Rodgers’ former targets, including Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb (they’ve also added two other former teammates, quarterback Tim Boyle and offensive tackle Billy Turner). This has led some to wonder if Rodgers had a specific list of targets that he wanted the Jets to pursue, similar to what went down with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay. However, Saleh dismissed that notion, noting that multiple individuals play roles in recruiting certain players.
“It’s very common for new faces to want old faces, to come in and help accelerate the installation of an entire program,” Saleh said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “Everything is pinned on the quarterback. It’s not just him.
“Hackett has something to say about it. He loves Lazard. He loves Randall. He took Billy Turner with him to Denver, and he wanted him here. Of course, you’re going to surround a coach with people who he feels like will plant the flag … that whole narrative — what people are trying to put on the quarterback — it’s tired. It’s common practice in the NFL.”
Besides Davis and the two aforementioned acquisitions, the Jets WR depth chart also consists of Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, free agent addition Mecole Hardman, and former second-round pick Denzel Mims.
Translation: They have a veteran QB who understands complex offenses that Zach Wilson couldn’t,
The plan is for Zach to learn the offense over the next two seasons and to be ready to implement it on a team-friendly contract, possibly similar to the one Jordan Love just got, after his rookie deal expires. Can that happen? It’s hard to say.
As for the WRs, I think they will carry 6 on the 53-man roster and stash several of their UDFA WRs on the practice squad if none are poached. The one to watch is Jason Brownlee from Southern Miss.
Same with Elijah Moore. You can’t look at someone’s stat line when they have a terrible quarterback throwing them the ball.
The motley crew of receivers the Jets have are still better than the junk Rodgers left behind in Green Bay. Sometimes the QB makes the receivers look good and sometimes it is the other way around.
Losing Adams was big for AR, but Watson looks like he’ll be pretty good. Love looked good in relief of AR last year against Philly. GB won’t win alot of games thid year but they will be competitive.
Ironically, the “junk” he left behind also signed with the Jets.
Right, Rodgers didn’t have a list, you just happened to sign Cobb by chance.
Davis, Lazard, Wilson, Hardman, Mims, Spencer, Cobb, etc. there’s plenty of room for all of these guys along with Uzomah, Conklin, and Ruckert the tight ends.
Add in a healthy Hall, Carter, and Knight, and Rodgers should have plenty of weapons to choose from…
They should be a fun team to watch with Saleh having put his stamp on their defense, and their D looking very promising…