Jets could still use another wide receiver after Corey Davis addition

It’s no surprise that the Jets finished the 2020 season with the second-worst passing offense given the group of receivers they boasted last year.

That ranking could improve this season, though, after Joe Douglas agreed to sign former Titans wideout Corey Davis. Davis gives the Jets a solid trio of receivers alongside Jamison Crowder and Denzel Mims.

But even with Davis in tow, the Jets could use another solid pass-catcher for Mike LaFleur’s offense. It could turn out to be Chris Herndon – considering how well George Kittle fared in San Francisco for Kyle Shanahan – but Joe Douglas should hedge against his current receiver crops by bringing in another pass-catcher in free agency or the draft.

There are a plethora of great receivers still left in free agency that could fit well in LaFleur’s offense. Will Fuller V and JuJu Smith-Schuster might be a little too rich for the Jets right now, but either would be fantastic complements for Davis and Mims. Inexpensive players like Adam Humphries or Marquis Goodwin – who played under LaFleur and Shanahan from 2017-2019 – would be great options as well.

While a fourth starting-caliber receiver isn’t entirely necessary, there is precedent for having at least three good pass-catchers in this type of offense. The Shanahan-LaFleur offense doesn’t rely on just one or two receivers. The 49ers had three pass-catchers with at least 30 receptions for more than 500 yards in all but one of Shanahan’s four years in San Francisco. In fact, every offense Shanahan ran before the 49ers – Atlanta in 2015 and 2016, Washington from 2010-2013 and Houston from 2008-2009 – also finished with at least three pass-catchers who tallied at least 30 catches for 500 yards.

The Jets also dealt with a plethora of wide receiver injuries last season, which should give Joe Douglas pause before deeming his receiver depth is finalized. Davis, Crowder and Mims missed 13 games combined in 2020 for various ailments. That may not happen again, but the Jets can’t afford to lose any talent on offense given how poorly they’ve played recently. After those three, the Jets have only Vyncint Smith, Jeff Smith and Josh Doctson on the depth chart. None of those three should play prominent roles on offense.

The Jets may wait to add another receiver until the 2021 NFL draft – albeit in another rich class for the position – but there’s no telling if Douglas’ targets will be available at the Jets’ picks. It would be better of him and the Jets to grab a veteran pass-catcher now, in free agency, to fill out the position group. New York can still look to add another young player in the draft.

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