The New York Jets enter the 2023 NFL season with a number of new faces throughout their offense. After buying and selling for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Jets loaded up at extensive receiver. With three new veterans within the combine, the WR rotation will look a lot completely different.
We dive into the Jets’ extensive receiver depth chart and challenge who would be the starters and backups in 2023.
New York Jets WR Depth Chart
The Jets’ WR corps had its strengths in 2022 regardless of affected by arguably the worst QB state of affairs within the NFL. Rookie Garrett Wilson was a direct star, incomes the AP Offensive Rookie of the 12 months Award after hauling in 83 receptions for 1,103 yards and 4 touchdowns. However regardless of boasting expertise, the unit struggled to persistently produce past Wilson.
Rodgers’ arrival put extra stress on New York to encompass the veteran with extra consistency. Elijah Moore, regardless of being an explosive and intriguing younger participant, was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a swap of draft picks. The Jets additionally spent $44 million to carry Allen Lazard from Inexperienced Bay to New York, $3 million to reunite Randall Cobb with Rodgers, and $4 million on Mecole Hardman.
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Lazard and Cobb are notably near Rodgers, with the previous saying Rodgers was a “massive cause” why he signed with the group. Cobb, turning 33 this summer time after producing solely 417 yards and one landing final yr, is seeking to “fill some voids” as a task participant. Hardman, who completed with solely 297 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022, was oddly extra drawn to enjoying with Lazard and Wilson than Rodgers.
In the meantime, the Jets even have Corey Davis and Denzel Mims on the roster. In 2022, Davis was third on the group in receiving yards with 536, however he missed 4 video games. Final yr, Mims performed in 10 video games however caught solely 11 passes for 186 yards.
Will Corey Davis and Denzel Mims Make the Staff?
The Jets’ receiver room is sort of full proper now. Rodgers has already in contrast Wilson to former All-Professional teammate Davante Adams, and it’s secure to imagine each Lazard and Cobb may have their very own roles. Rodgers and Cobb are “extraordinarily shut,” each on the sphere and off the sphere, so even when he’s over the hill in comparison with Davis and Mims, count on to see Cobb have some affect in 2023.
Each Davis and Mims have been the topic of commerce rumors for the reason that offseason started. Davis has an $11.1 million cap hit this yr, however chopping him would save $10.5 million of that quantity. Mims, who has flashed the power to be a big-play menace, has solely 92 receptions for 676 yards in three seasons.
Nonetheless, each gamers can carry worth to this offense. Whereas Hardman’s pace is good, Davis is an excellent run blocker along with being a possession receiver. With Davis on the sphere in 2022, the Jets averaged 5.18 yards per carry, in comparison with simply 3.91 ypc when he was off.
For 2022, that distinction was sufficient between the fourth-best speeding offense and the twenty ninth. Nonetheless, the 28-year-old Davis might push for brand new surroundings by the top of coaching camp if he’s not a precedence within the rotation. The Jets would absolutely like to trim his wage if he’s not going to be a starter, and barring harm, he seems buried because the third or fourth choice already.
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Mims has much less worth regardless of being bodily tantalizing. Nonetheless, he’s an intriguing depth piece if the group needs to hold six receivers on their closing roster. New York lacks any confirmed depth past their high six, so one harm can permit him to discover a greater position in a rush.
It appears equally seemingly that each Davis and Mims make the ultimate roster or each are passed by the beginning of the common season. There’s no cause to pay Davis like a starter if he’s going to be a depth piece. Mims isn’t a special-teams contributor, so the Jets may transfer on from the challenge with a view to get somebody capable of fill a task elsewhere.