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Who Should Stay and Who Should Go For New York Jets: Wide Receivers

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By @GregSulik

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Wide receiver was one of the most discussed positions for the New York Jets last offseason, and there is no doubt that the team is in much better shape now than they were a year ago. The offseason signing of Eric Decker and the midseason trade for Percy Harvin gave the Jets two more playmakers to complement Jeremy Kerley, though the results on the field were not quite what the Jets had hoped for. There is no doubt that these players are being held back by bad quarterback play, but the Jets also have some room for improvement here.

Decker was expected to be the Jets’ No. 1 receiver, and he did a pretty good job considering his injury problems and the inept combination of Geno Smith and Michael Vick throwing him the ball. Decker caught 74 passes for 962 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first season in New York, which represents a solid year.

Decker is a polarizing player, but it is best to describe him like this: he is the 16th highest paid receiver in the NFL based on average annual value, and he produced right about at that level. Decker is not a true No. 1, but he is a solid receiver who is only going to get better with health and better play under center. The Jets got what they paid for, and he proved to be a big upgrade on the outside.

Decker will obviously be back next season, and he will be joined by slot receiver Kerley, whose statistics took a major hit this year. Kerley’s 38 receptions, 409 yards, and one score were all his lowest since his rookie year, which is not surprising given the increased competition for targets. However, he is a solid player with a knack for converting third downs, which is why the Jets signed him to a four year extension.

The only other receiver on the Jets’ roster who is certain to be back next season is Shaq Evans, the fourth round pick who spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Evans was a controversial pick at the time, and the pressure on him is increased by both the failure of fellow draftee Jalen Saunders and the success of Martavis Bryant, who was rated higher and went just three picks later. The Jets need Evans to pan out, and he will be given plenty of chances to succeed.

One of the big storylines for the Jets this offseason will be the future of Harvin, who was acquired midseason. Harvin caught 29 passes for 350 yards and 1 TD in eight games with Jets while rushing 22 times for 110 yards. The Jets would like to keep Harvin, but not at his current price. Harvin’s cap hit is about $10 million in each of the next four seasons, far more than his production warrants.

Harvin has no guaranteed money in his contract, so if he wants to stay in New York he could be motivated to re-negotiate his contract to lower his cap figure in exchange for guarantees. More likely is a scenario in which the Jets release him and attempt to re-sign him in free agency. Such a decision would also reduce the draft pick given to the Seattle Seahawks from a fourth rounder to a sixth rounder. Bringing Harvin back makes a lot of football sense, but whether or not it happens will come down to financials.

The Jets have a host of other receivers on the roster, including Greg Salas, T.J. Graham, Saalim Hakim, Chris Owusu, Walter Powell, and Quincy Enunwa. None of those players are anything close to a lock to return, and none are anything close to irreplaceable. The best guess here is that Salas, Graham, and Hakim will be in camp, with only one of them making the roster.

The Jets could still look to acquire a top receiver this offseason, with Amari Cooper’s name frequently popping up in discussions about the No. 6 overall pick. Whether that happens could be determined by Harvin’s situation, which will take some time to play out. All in all, the Jets have a decent receiving corps that is light years ahead of 2013′s group but still has plenty of room for improvement. There is potential here, but the team needs the right quarterback to bring it out.

Greg Sulik is a New York Jets writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @GregSulik or add him to your network on Google

Previously: Quarterbacks, Running Backs

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