The Jets have their quarterback of the future in Sam Darnold, but he’s going to need some help if he wants to take his game to the next level in 2019.
Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa are solid players, but they are complementary receivers. New York lacks a true No. 1 option at the position and if the Jets want to contend next season, general manager Mike Maccagnan is going to have to figure out a way to add one into the mix.
Much like at running back, the free agent market is loaded with talent at wide receiver. Maccagnan will have plenty of options to choose from and if all goes well, Darnold will have some new weapons to work with before long.
With that being said, here are seven wide receivers the Jets should target in free agency.
Jets Free Agent Targets: Running Backs | Wide Receivers
Golden Tate
Tate has been a consistent source of production since 2012 and has shown no signs of slowing down, making him the most intriguing free agent wide receiver out there.
Last season was a rollercoaster ride for the 30-year-old receiver, as he was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Philadelphia Eagles midseason. Tasked with learning a new playbook on the fly, it took Tate a while to get comfortable, but he emerged as one of Philadelphia’s top options in the passing game down the stretch once he got his feet wet.
In four of nine NFL seasons, Tate has caught more than 90 passes. He may be getting up there in age, but that’s not going to impact his ability to produce. Tate has a knack for getting open and the swagger to succeed in the Big Apple. He might be exactly what the Jets are looking for at the position.
Demaryius Thomas
Thomas is an intriguing target, but buyer beware. The 31-year-old is coming off a major Achilles injury and his production has tailed off in recent years.
From 2012-16, Thomas caught over 90 passes in each season and registered over 100 receptions in 2014 and 2015. Since then, dropped passes have become an issue and his 2018 season was a disaster. Thomas caught only 59 passes, his lowest total since 2011, was traded from the Denver Broncos to the Houston Texans and then tore his Achilles in the final week of the season.
Thomas still has plenty of value, though. He is an experienced, big-bodied wideout with a knack for making the big play. Physicality at the line of scrimmage is the name of the game for Thomas and with his ability to create separation and take the top off the defense, he could emerge as Darnold’s favorite target should he wind up in New York.
There’s also the Adam Gase factor at play here. Thomas had some of his best seasons in Denver with Gase calling the plays. New York’s new head coach knows what Thomas can do when healthy, meaning the two sides could have a mutual interest in a reunion.
Donte Moncrief
Following a breakout 2015 season with the Indianapolis Colts, Moncrief fell off the map until last season. Now, he finds himself in a position to cash out in free agency.
Moncrief had a resurgence with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018, catching 48 passes for 668 yards and three touchdowns from a less than ideal stable of quarterbacks. He also burned the Jets for five receptions, 109 yards and a touchdown in Week 4, so New York has an idea of what he is capable of.
Moncrief is not an established top option, but he is trending in the direction. Only 26, the 6-foot-2 wideout is entering the prime of his career and his best days are ahead of him. With this in mind, he could emerge as a top option for the Jets.
Adam Humphries
Last offseason, Adam Gase inked Danny Amendola to a contract and employed him in the slot for the duration of 2018. Humphries is a younger and more productive version of Amendola, which could lead the Jets to take an interest in the Clemson product.
Humphries flew under the radar with the Buccaneers last season, catching 76 passes for 816 yards and five touchdowns. In fact, he recorded the most receptions of any other free agent wide receiver on the market while serving in a secondary role. Humphries had to compete with Mike Evans, O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin and others for targets, but he still managed to perform at a high level.
The popular opinion is that Humphries is destined to wind up with the New England Patriots, but the Jets can act to prevent that from happening. Should Gase want another prolific slot receiver, Humphries is the guy New York should go after. He is also only 26, so Humphries has plenty of football left in him.
Tyrell Williams
As the Chargers have added weapons at wide receiver and Keenan Allen has stayed healthy, Williams has faded into the background. However, that’s not due to diminishing skill.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Williams can go up and get almost anything a quarterback puts in his vicinity. When given a chance at playing time, Williams has produced and proven his worth. For him, it’s all about getting on the field and seeing targets. That has not happened with the Chargers in recent years, but he will get the chance with his new team.
Could the Jets be that team? Williams could come as somewhat of a bargain, making him an attractive option given his skill set. He’s not a No. 1, but he is a nice complementary piece — one that could definitely help New York’s wide receiver room.
John Brown
Brown has had productive stints with the Arizona Cardinals and, most recently, the Baltimore Ravens. His production suffered at the end of 2018 once Lamar Jackson took over under center, but Brown still managed to make a profound impact as a deep threat.
Last season, Brown averaged a whopping 17 yards per reception. His skill set isn’t eye-popping, but he gets the job done and is consistent. He would be a nice complimentary piece for New York’s offense and would join Quincy Enunwa as another versatile wideout who can thrive both over the top and on underneath routes.
Devin Funchess
In 2018, Funchess was handed the opportunity to establish himself as the No. 1 option in the Carolina Panthers’ passing attack. Instead of taking advantage, he squandered it. As a result, he will likely be searching for a new home this offseason.
Funchess has the talent to succeed, but a lack of consistency has prevented him from putting it all together. His disappointing 2018 campaign presented some red flags, but Funchess is worth taking a flier on if Gase could find a way to get the best of him.
