JETS COUNTRY DRAFT SERIES: Possible Additions to Gang Green's Already-Stacked Receivers' Room
The New York Jets made a concerted effort to upgrade their receiving corps through free agency.
Making two noteworthy moves, Gang Green signed 6-foot-5 Allen Lazard before inking speedy Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman.
The two veteran pass-catchers appear to be a perfect fit for the Jets, sliding into the formation alongside WR1 Garrett Wilson.
With Wilson, the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, as the headliner, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has a good-looking trio of receivers to deploy during his first season as the Jets’ play caller.
Wilson, the No. 10 overall draft pick last April, Wilson made 83 grabs for 1,103 yards while starting all 17 contests in 2022.
WR Garrett Wilson was the No. 10 overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Lazard, who made no fewer than 33 catches each of the past four seasons, led all Green Bay pass-catchers in receptions (60) and receiving yards (788) last year with none other than Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback.
Hardman, who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash during his NFL Combine testing four years ago, has participated in the playoffs each of the first four seasons in the league. The two-time Super Bowl champion receiver burst onto the scene as a rookie, amassing 1,426 all-purpose yards en-route to earning a Pro Bowl nod as a return specialist in 2019.
Moving past the top-three, the Jets have plenty of potential in their receivers’ room. Veteran Corey Davis, who has been surrounded by trade rumors, has flashed ability at the NFL level and WR5 Denzel Mims is a former second-round draft talent.
Despite their receiver depth, the Jets could be tempted to add a premier prospect if a talent like JSN fell to No. 13 overall selection. Should Gang Green look elsewhere with its first-round pick, there will be plenty of chances to grab a future contributor as the Draft transpires.
In a pass-happy NFL where no team can have too many pass-catchers, here are three WR options that the Jets should examine heading into the 2023 NFL Draft.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State
Ht: 6005 | Wt: 196 | Hand: 0900 | Arm: 3048 | Wing: 7548 | 40: 4.38e
Persistent hamstring problems limited this incredible talent to only three games in 2022. The 6-foot Smith-Njiba was coming off the best statistical season by a receiver in Big Ten history.
Playing alongside first-round draft picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, Smith-Nijba set Ohio State single-season records for receptions (95) and receiving yards (1,606). The yardage total broke the Big Ten Conference record that was set by Wisconsin’s Lee Evans (1,545) 20 years earlier.
Although he didn’t record a 40-yard dash time, the projected top-20 pick clocked the fastest times amongst all receiver participants in both the three-cone drill (6.57) and 20-yard shuttle (3.93) at the 2023 NFL Combine. Smith-Njigba currently ranks atop NFL Draft Bible’s WR Big Board.
Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
Joshua A. Bickel / USA TODAY NETWORK
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee
Ht: 6001 | Wt: 176 | Hand: 0900 | Arm: 3248 | Wing: 7758 | 40: 4.40
Hyatt erupted in 2022, putting together what is arguably the best season by a wide receiver in Tennessee’s history. He became the first Vol to capture the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to college football's most outstanding receiver regardless of position.
The 6-foot Hyatt averaged 18.9 yards per reception and made a program-record 12 touchdown grabs over 12 starts.
The speedy pass-catcher, who averaged 105.6 receiving yards per game for the Vols last fall, recorded eye-popping numbers at the NFL Combine. His 40” vertical jump ranked fourth amongst the entire group of receivers while his 11-foot-3 broad jump topped the field. The NFL’s @NexGenStats awarded Hyatt an “athleticism” score (89) that tied him for first place amongst all participating receivers.
Kayshon Boutte, Louisiana State
Ht: 5112 | Wt: 195 | Hand: 0948 | Arm: 3138 | 40: 4.50
Boutte was “unavailable” to play for LSU in the Citrus Bowl, sparking rumors involving the star receiver and his presence at a risqué party. He later invited more speculation when declaring for the NFL Draft after having initially announced his intention to return to LSU for the 2023 season.
Putting aside the strange ending to his LSU Tigers’ career, Boutte has shown play-making ability against high-level competition. The 5-foot-11 receiver amassed 1,782 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 27 appearances over three seasons. He averaged 5.0 catches per game and 13.6 yards per reception during his LSU tenure.
His NFL Combine testing raised some concern and likely dropped him down a number of teams’ draft boards. Boutte’s 29” vertical ranked last amongst receivers while his 9-foot-10 broad jump was the next-to-last mark.
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