NFL free agency is in just a couple of days which will officially kick-start the offseason craziness for all 32 teams. For the New York Jets, it’s the start of a huge free agency for Joe Douglas and company as they will look to get back on track with Aaron Rodgers in 2024. One of the biggest needs comes at wide receiver where the Jets have already seen a few names get removed from the board, but new names have emerged through both trade and free agency.
Today, let’s look at the latest list of wide receivers for the Jets to target.
New York Jets Updated Wide Receiver Targets
Courtland Sutton
New beginnings have arrived in Denver as quarterback Russell Wilson was released, officially signaling the end of a disastrous trade for the Denver Broncos and the start of what is expected to be a major rebuild. With Wilson out, many reports have surfaced revealing the teams’ top two wideouts one of those being Courtland Sutton could be on his way out via trade as Denver looks to restart.
After being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Courtland Sutton has been one of the most reliable options for Denver. In his 81 career games, Sutton has accumulated 298 receptions for 4,259 yards and 24 touchdowns. Most recently in 2023, he enjoyed a nice season hauling in 59 receptions for 772 yards and a career high in touchdowns with ten. However, one of his most impressive abilities is making plays in the red zone. In 2023, he tallied a 70.6 red zone reception percentage for 114 yards and eight touchdowns. All of these led the Broncos.
Overall, Sutton has put together a very productive career with Denver and his consistency would fit perfectly with the Jets, especially in the red zone. One of New York’s biggest weaknesses last season was converting in the red zone which adding Sutton plus, the return of Rodgers could quickly turn into a team strength.
Calvin Ridley
After seeing Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, and Michael Pittman Jr. all taken off the open market, Calvin Ridley is now regarded by many as the top free-agent wide receiver available. After missing the entirety of the 2022 season, Ridley bounced back with a solid 2023 campaign in Jacksonville.
Last season coming off suspension, Ridley tallied 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns. In his career, Ridley has mustered up 324 receptions for 4,358 yards and 36 touchdowns. While some fantasy managers weren’t satisfied with Ridley last year when you look at his production on the field and on paper it was a productive season considering he missed all of 2022.
The former first-round pick in 2018 now hits the open market as the top target and will look for the most money possible entering his age 29 season. For New York, if the price is reasonable Douglas should pull the trigger as Ridley would be a very good number two option alongside Garrett Wilson.
However, the big question is would Ridley want to come to The Big Apple knowing 2025 and beyond is a complete unknown at quarterback, front office, and coaching staff? Only time will tell if Ridley will want to sign long-term with a win-now team like New York.
Mike Williams
Major changes have occurred in Los Angeles as the Chargers cleaned house after the 2023 season. The Jim Harbaugh era has begun which injected much-needed hope and optimism into an organization that desperately needed it. However, Harbaugh and the front office have a lot of work to do which could include moving on from a few important pieces one of them being wideout Mike Williams.
After only appearing in three games last season before suffering a torn ACL, Williams’ trade value could be very favorable for opposing teams. Especially with what he has been able to do when he is healthy. In his 88 career games played, Williams has amassed 309 receptions for 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns. The 29-year-old has also seen two 1,000-yard campaigns in 2019 and 2021.
Since entering the league in 2017 as a first-round pick, Williams alongside Keenan Allen quickly became one of the more underrated one-two punches at receiver in the league. While a player’s performance coming off a torn ACL is also put into question and Williams has tended to be inconsistent, if this trade becomes realistic for New York the ceiling for what a healthy and consistent Williams paired with Garrett Wilson can do is sky-high. Especially after seeing the moments of success with Williams and Allen in L.A.
Tyler Boyd
Despite one wide receiver being taken off the open market in Cincinnati with Tee Higgins getting franchise-tagged, Tyler Boyd is still set to hit free agency. Boyd has spent his entire eight-year career in Cincy after being drafted in 2016. Through his eight years, Boyd has remained a consistent option playing 120 games in his NFL career.
Most recently in 2023, Boyd appeared in all 17 games tallying 67 receptions for 667 yards and two touchdowns. In his career, he has hauled in 513 receptions for 6,000 yards and 31 touchdowns including back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2018-19. For a while, Boyd was relied on as a number two option but recently has been bumped back as a third option behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Recent reports have stated that New York has shown interest in Boyd as a number two option alongside Garrett Wilson. While he shouldn’t be at the top of New York’s list because of better options and his recent stretch of being a number three wide receiver, it wouldn’t be the worst-case scenario for Joe Douglas and the Jets.
Main Image: Corey Perrine / USA TODAY NETWORK
