Cleared for touchdowns?
The Jets finished the 2021 season with a wide receiver corps of Keelan Cole, Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims and Jeff Smith as several regulars were on injured reserve.
Guided by quarterback Zach Wilson (when healthy) and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, the Jets will hope to improve on their putrid wideout production in 2022: Jets wide receivers combined for 218 receptions, 2,603 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Injuries, a rookie QB and an inexperienced play-caller all stunted the team’s offensive growth last year.
But it’s a new season, and there’s renewed optimism in Florham Park, especially in the wide receiver room. If health stays at optimal levels, Wilson takes a step forward and LaFleur settles into a groove in his second year, then the Jets have one of the NFL’s more intriguing groups at the position.
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New York values versatility in its wideout room, so it might be unfair to expect a tried-and-true No. 1 receiver through all 17 games, but there’s still game-breaking potential in the group.
Jets WR depth chart
While it remains to be seen exactly how these receivers will earn their targets, here’s how depth chart could stack up:
1. Elijah Moore
2021 stats: 11 games (11 starts), 43 receptions, 538 yards, five touchdowns.
Moore missed time with an injury, but he showed in flashes why the Jets took him at the top of Round 2 in 2021.
He might not be the biggest receiver on the field, but his route-running and ability to separate (3.4 yards of average separation in 2021) make him not only a fantasy sleeper, but also a prime candidate for breakout player of the year.
In addition to that, Moore’s versatility as an inside and outside receiver in the Jets’ scheme means he won’t get the same look from the defense multiple times a game. That’s something the Jets value, and it’s something that plays exceptionally well for a 2022 NFL wide receiver.
2. Corey Davis
2021 stats: Nine games (nine starts), 34 receptions, 492 yards, four touchdowns
Davis was a disappointment in a number of ways in 2021. He dealt with drop issues mainly, and he also missed time with an injury.
Davis will likely start the year in the WR2 spot, but if 2022 first-round pick Garrett Wilson (see below) progresses through camp, then there’s a good chance Davis will drop down a spot on the chart before the start of the regular season.
3. Garrett Wilson
2021 stats: N/A
Arguably the biggest battle of camp will be who occupies the No. 2 role behind Moore. Robert Saleh’s mission to make everyone on the field earn their spot means that Wilson, the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft, isn’t guaranteed to start opposite Moore in Week 1.
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Wilson, though, has displayed a lot of the tools needed to be a WR1 in the NFL: he has excellent speed and athleticism. With some polish to his route-running, he could get there sooner rather than later.
All this means Wilson will have time develop in an offense that values his skill set, and New York could have a young, explosive 1-2 tandem for years to come.
4. Braxton Berrios
2021 stats: 16 games (one start), 46 receptions, 431 yards, two touchdowns.
Berrios’ emergence as one of Wilson’s favorite targets and an elite kick returner in 2021 led to a two-year, $12 million contract with the Jets this offseason. That still didn’t get him a high spot on the depth chart.
When he sees the field on offense, most of his snaps will come out of the slot: 284 of his snaps in 2021 came from the slot while 97 came out wide. With a healthier group in front of him on the depth chart, expect Berrios to work as a gadget wideout and a kick returner.
5. Denzel Mims
2021 stats: 11 games (three starts), eight receptions, 133 yards, no touchdowns.
Mims had a very disappointing sophomore season. He faced an uphill battle all year playing in a new offense.
During the preseason, Mims lost a fight with salmon and subsequently lost weight, which stymied his progress in the offense. During the season, Mims’ lack of versatility kept him glued to the bench. He played in just a handful of games until injuries forced him into action.
If early camp reports are to be believed, Mims looks rejuvenated. But that almost definitely won’t be enough for him to jump ahead of some receivers who are ahead of him. There’s also a chance that Mims might not make the team out of camp, if he can’t pick up the offense.
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