The pool of free agent wide receivers will not be as strong as anticipated, but there are still plenty of big-name options for the Jets to target later this month.
The NFL’s franchise tag deadline was at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and two top wide receivers were tagged by their respective franchises. The Bears placed the tag on Allen Robinson, while the Buccaneers did the same to Chris Godwin.
Robinson and Godwin could have been targets for the Jets, who are in dire need of a No. 1 wide receiver. Barring a tag and trade scenario, now both players are off the market.
However, there will still be a talented group of free agent wide receivers that the Jets could go after once the new league year opens on March 17. Kenny Golladay, for example, didn’t get slapped with the franchise tag by the Lions on Tuesday. He’ll likely be the No. 1 wide receiver available in free agency.
Golladay made some highlight-reel catches and put up big numbers in his four years in Detroit. He was a 1,000-yard receiver in two of his four seasons as a Lion and was a Pro Bowler in 2019. Golladay was plagued by injuries all season long in 2020 and was limited to just five games. When Golladay’s on the field, though, he’s tough to match up with on the outside.
Another wide receiver that will become a free agent is JuJu Smith-Schuster. He’s just 24 years old and has a knack for getting himself open in the middle of the field. His best season with the Steelers came in 2018 when he recorded 111 catches for 1,426 yards. Smith-Schuster hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since then, but he’s a player with a ton of upside. He could be of particular interest to the Jets if they stick with Sam Darnold, Smith-Schuster’s teammate at USC.
Curtis Samuel hit free agency at the perfect time after having a career year in 2020 with the Panthers. He had a career-high 77 catches and 851 yards last season despite being the No. 3 wide receiver on Carolina’s depth chart. He also eclipsed 1,000 total yards, adding 200 on the ground. It took a few years for Samuel to show his full potential, but he can run multiple route trees and be a productive wide receiver.
If the Jets miss out on those three wide receivers, there are still a couple of others that they can pursue who fall under the high-risk, high reward category. Will Fuller V was well on his way to having a fantastic season with the Texans until he has hit with a PED suspension that caused him to miss the final five games of the regular season. In 11 games, Fuller recorded 53 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns. When Fuller was on the field, he was a dynamic vertical threat with his speed. Fuller averaged 16.6 yards per catch, which was sixth in the NFL last season.
There’s also Corey Davis. The Titans chose not to exercise his fifth-year option after a disappointing 2019 season, but then he put up the best numbers of his career in 2020. He recorded 65 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns in 14 games last year. Davis is only 26 years old and may have just been a late bloomer.
Robinson and Godwin would have been on a tier above all these options had they hit the open market, but the Jets still have some strong choices at wide receiver after the duo was tagged. Even though New York will not have its shot at two of the NFL’s premier wide receivers in free agency, they can still add an impactful player at the position this March.
