Coming into the offseason, fortifying the offensive line was the number one priority for the Jets.
With that now complete, it is time for them to address the receiver position.
A year ago, the Jets thought they found a complement to Garrett Wilson in Allen Lazard when they signed him to a four-year, $44 million contract. Gang Green also signed Mecole Hardman, hoping he would develop into a third or fourth receiving option.
Heading into training camp, it appeared the Jets had a talented group at receiver to go alongside Aaron Rodgers, whom they acquired last April.
However, Lazard struggled in his first season with the Jets, catching just 23 passes for 311 yards and one touchdown. Hardman played in just five games for the Jets before he was traded to the Chiefs midseason.
This doesn’t even include Corey Davis sitting out the 2023 season. Recently, the Jets released Davis from the reserve/retired list after he applied to the NFL for reinstatement.
During the first week of free agency, the Jets did not address their need for a veteran wide receiver. Despite the receiver market drying up a bit, there are still some intriguing free-agent options.
Former Chargers receiver Mike Williams will visit the Jets on Monday evening. He also has visits with the Panthers and Steelers scheduled for later this week. The Chargers released Williams last week to save $20 million on their salary cap.
During the 2022 season, Williams registered 63 catches for 895 yards and four touchdowns. But last season, he tore his ACL in Week 3 and missed the rest of the season.
Williams would be an upgrade to the Jets receiver room if he can stay healthy because he is a significant down-the-field threat. During his seven seasons in the NFL, Williams has averaged 15.6 yards per catch.
Other potential options for the Jets include Odell Beckham Jr., Tyler Boyd, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who played with Rodgers in Green Bay from 2018-21. The Jets were interested in Beckham a year ago, but he signed a one-year, $15 million offer with the Ravens. He finished the year with 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
Boyd has been one of the more productive slot receivers in the league during the last eight seasons. He has averaged 64 catches for 750 yards and four touchdowns during that time.
Valdes-Scantling’s history with Rodgers makes him intriguing. In 2023, he had 21 catches for 315 yards and one touchdown for the Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
The Jets could also wait until the NFL Draft (April 25–27) to address their receiver needs. This is arguably the most talented receiver draft in decades and with the Jets now addressing their offensive line, they can simply take the best available player at 10th overall. That could be Washington receiver Rome Odunze, LSU’s Malik Nabers, or Georgia tight end Brock Bowers.
No matter what the Jets decide to do, upgrading the receiver position is now their No. 1 priority.
Zach Wilson conundrum: Will the Jets trade or release him?
Several quarterbacks have changed zip codes this offseason.
Zach Wilson has not been one of those, at least not yet. Jets general manager Joe Douglas told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that he has given Wilson permission to seek a trade.
But the market for the former No. 2 overall pick has not been kind. Jets owner Woody Johnson certainly didn’t help that after basically throwing Wilson under the bus during the NFL Honors Red Carpet last month. Meanwhile, Wilson’s 2021 draftmates Mac Jones and Justin Fields were both traded within the last week.
The Jaguars traded a 2024 sixth-round pick to the Patriots for Jones. The Bears received a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025 from the Steelers for Fields. That could turn into a fourth-round pick, depending on Fields’ playing time.
The Jets would like to receive the best offer for Wilson. However, after Wilson’s struggles during his three seasons in the league, there might not be one.
In 34 games, Wilson threw for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. He has also completed 57% of his passes in his career.
Wilson is entering the final guaranteed season of his rookie contract and has a $22.4 million team option for 2025, which certainly will be declined if the Jets can trade him.
If the Jets cannot find a trade partner, they could flat-out release Wilson. But they would have to absorb an $11.1 million cap hit as dead money.
They could also keep Wilson for one more season and make him the third-string quarterback behind Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor, whom the Jets signed last week. However, that scenario seems unlikely, especially since Wilson has reportedly put his Florham Park townhouse on the market for $950,000.
