Corey Davis stepped away from football last August, putting pause on his Jets tenure and leading to questions about his NFL future. The veteran wideout has applied for reinstatement, though, per ESPN’s Field Yates. 
As Yates’ report notes, the Jets were expected to release Davis from the reserve/retired list on Thursday; per a team announcement, that move has indeed been made. As such, the 29-year-old is now a free agent. Yates and others have noted, however, that a new agreement with New York could be in play.
Davis did not declare he was retiring at the time he announced his decision to leave the team temporarily. That absence proved to last the entire 2023 campaign, but he could receive interest from the Jets or outside teams over the coming days and weeks. The former fifth overall pick was attached to a three-year, $37.5MM deal signed in 2021.
The Jets invested in a number of ex-Aaron Rodgers teammates last offseason, including a lucrative deal for Allen Lazard. The former Packer inked a four-year, $44MM pact, one which led to major expectations with New York. Even with Rodgers tearing his Achilles in Week 1, Lazard proved to be an underwhelming addition in his debut Jets campaign. The 28-year-old was a healthy scratch in November, and he also sat the final two weeks of the campaign. 2023 may prove to be Lazard’s only campaign in New York.
The Jets are open to dealing Lazard, Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic report. The former UDFA is owed $10MM guaranteed in 2024, and he is set to have a cap hit of $13.18MM in 2025 and ’26. Given the disappointing nature of his season last year, it would come as a surprise if teams showed much interest in swinging a deal for Lazard. New York is not actively shopping him at this time, Connor Hughes of SNY notes.
The Jets struggled mightily on offense after Rodgers went down, ranking 30th in passing yards per game. A healthy Rodgers (and a new backup quarterback in the form of Tyrod Taylor) would go a long way toward helping the team’s efforts to rebound from 2023. A better receiver corps would be beneficial as well, of course. It will be interesting to see if Davis is retained on a new deal and if Lazard remains in the fold for 2024.
Perhaps the Jets should fire Joe Douglass and name Rodgers player/GM.
Nah, they need contingency plans for when he’s on a ticket running for the White House.
Which is why the Jets signed Tyrod Taylor.
Lazard was a waste of $$$. I say ship him off to Panthers for a 6th and a pack of Oreos double stuffed
Panthers would say 7th since you wanted double stuf Oreos. At least that would be my counteroffer if I were Dan Morgan, the Panthers GM…..
So what about a compensatory 7th and a pack of EXTRA gum?
Davis was better at being a possession receiver who can block than Lazard. Lazard’s value was in being friends with Rodgers, and being friends with Rodgers is a pretty big red flag right now.
Patriots are looking for a WR … maybe package him with Zach Wilson and get a 2085 7th round pick in return
Douglas should go right to the HOF if he could pull that off. More likely the Jets would have to give someone a pick to take Lazard similar to Brock Osweiler.