How the New York Jets Will Replace Departed First-Round Pick

On March 18, 2021, Joe Douglas made one of the biggest free agent signings of the offseason. The New York Jets signed wide receiver Corey Davis to a three-year deal worth 37.5 million dollars ($27 million of which is guaranteed). Before this, Corey Davis spent the past four seasons in Tennessee after the Titans selected him with the fifth-overall pick out of Western Michigan in 2017. Unfortunately, injuries were persistent for Corey after arriving in New York. He played in 22 out of 34 games between 2021 and 2022. On Wednesday, Corey Davis shocked the world by announcing his retirement at only 28 years old. While Davis had spent weeks considering the decision, fans wish him nothing but the best in his next chapter in life. Regardless, Joe Douglas must quickly evaluate his options to replace him before they face Buffalo.

How the New York Jets Will Replace Corey Davis

Joe Douglas brought Corey Davis to New York with hopes of him being the team’s leading receiver for Zach Wilson. However, the former Western Michigan Bronco couldn’t stay healthy. He missed eight games into his inaugural season in New York, thanks in large part to hip and groin injuries. 2022 was more of the same, as the big-money free agent dealt with knee and concussion injuries throughout the season. Head coach Robert Saleh and Davis’ teammates have spoken glowingly about his professionalism and mentoring on and off the field. Saleh has also mentioned that the opportunity for Davis to return is also open should the wide receiver have a change of heart.

Potential Replacements

Joe Douglas will examine the receiver market for Davis’ replacement. The Jets’ projected wide receivers will be Garrett Wilson and free agent acquisitions Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb. Additional internal options include Malik Taylor, standout return men Alex Erickson and Xavier Gipson, as well as undrafted free agent Jason Brownlee. Ideally, the team should add another receiver so Hardman can be utilized as a return man. Joe Douglas will have his options opened thanks to Corey Davis’ salary of ten million dollars coming off the books.

One route to consider is re-signing 2020 second-round pick Denzel Mims. New York traded Mims and a 2024 seventh-round pick to Detroit in July in exchange for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick. Detroit waived him last week due to a calf injury. His familiarity with the team and Hackett’s offense through OTAs makes it a seamless and cheap fit. But, what if New York has higher sites at wide receiver?

Another option is to await for available free agents after roster cuts begin with the August 29th cut-off date nears. Thanks to amendments in the CBA, team rosters must be trimmed from 90 players to 53 by 4:00 pm EST on the 29th. This can create a more robust receiver market to explore. One potential name is Las Vegas Raider Keelan Cole. The Jakobi Meyers signing removes any chance of Cole being a featured weapon in the Raiders offense. There will be more options available, but Cole has the benefit of his Jaguars tenure playing for Nathaniel Hackett while the latter was Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator from 2016-2018. Someone with that kind of familiarity with the offense can make Aaron Rodgers’ life easier as his third receiver.

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