Joe Douglas wants a No.1 wide receiver on the Jets. But his recent attempts to add one suggest he didn’t want to do so through the 2022 draft.
The failed pursuit of Tyreek Hill was the Jets’ latest chance to land a veteran pass-catcher for second-year QB Zach Wilson. Douglas also expressed interest in Falcons WR Calvin Ridley before his suspension, as well as now-Browns WR Amari Cooper, per The Athletic’s Connor Hughes, and still-Seahawks WR DK Metcalf, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
New York wouldn’t have inquired about so many veteran receivers – all of whom required or will require a new contract soon – if Douglas wasn’t in love with at least one rookie prospect. The Jets will have their pick of the best pass-catchers with the fourth and 10th overall selections this year. But by trying to trade for some established pass-catchers, Douglas let the rest of the league know the Jets are buyers looking to infuse the roster with experienced talent.
The strategy makes sense because the model worked in the past. Bills QB Josh Allen put together his best season in the NFL in 2020 after Buffalo traded for Stefon Diggs and the team reached the AFC championship. Cardinals QB Kyler Murray earned a Pro Bowl nod after Arizona acquired DeAndre Hopkins the same year. The Cowboys went 7-2 and made the NFC Divisional round after trading for Cooper midway through the 2018 season.
But the Jets have missed their shot multiple times this offseason and it doesn’t look like there are many options left on the table before the draft. It’s not like the Jets threw out lowball proposals, either. Douglas offered the 35th, 38th and 69th picks to the Chiefs for Hill, a slightly more valuable package than the one Kansas City eventually accepted from the Dolphins after Hill decided he’d rather play for Miami than New York.
The Jets simply aren’t destination players are interested in yet. Hill flat-out said ‘No’ to New York, while Robert Woods told the Rams he wanted to be traded to the Titans. Free agents like Allen Robinson and JuJu Smith-Schuster signed with the Rams and Chiefs, respectively (though it’s unknown if the Jets negotiated with either free agent) and others like Mike Williams and Chris Godwin re-upped with their current clubs after getting the franchise tag. Davante Adams would have been a major catch, but the Raiders offered a ton to pry him from the Packers and also had Adams’ college QB under center.
So now it looks as though the Jets will have to fall back on the draft. This isn’t a bad thing; it just doesn’t look like that’s what Douglas intended.
There are plenty of good options in the first and second rounds. USC’s Drake London and Ohio State’s Garett Wilson are likely top-10 picks, while secondary options like OSU’s Chris Olave, Arkansas’ Treylon Burks and Penn State’s Jahan Dotson are possibilities as well.
Or, perhaps Douglas takes another swing at a veteran receiver in free agency or on the trade block. Jarvis Landry, Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr. are all still free agents, though they may also be looking to join contenders rather than the rebuilding Jets. The Jets could ask the Titans about WR A.J. Brown before he demands a new contract, but that sounds like a pipe dream despite the fact Brown and Jets’ WR Elijah Moore are close.
But Douglas proved this week that he’s willing to take the swing – even if he misses.
