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Each Star WR Target for New York Jets offers something different
If it doesn’t work the first time, try again, right?
On Wednesday, many of the stalwart New York Jets experienced a roller coaster of emotions — a roller coaster that sadly culminated in overwhelming disappointment when one of the league’s top playmakers, Tyreek Hill, picked division rivals Miami Dolphins as his preferred trade target over the Jets.
While it may be easy at this point to reflect on the loss, we try to be productive instead.
Tyreek Hill won’t be a New York Jet, and that’s it. But we’ve actually learned something else from this whole debacle: general manager Joe Douglas, who has been accused of being a cheapskate, is actually more than willing to pay for players he believes are changemakers should the opportunity arise. Also, wide receiver is high on his priority list for this offseason.
So we can say it again with certainty: Tyreek Hill will not be a New York Jet. But something else we can say for sure right now is that the Jets are keen to bring another difference maker into the receiver space, whether through a trade or through the draft.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets are “monitoring the situation” of the Seattle Seahawks’ DK Metcalf, the Tennessee Titans’ AJ Brown and the San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel.
Cimini added, “At this point there is no indication that any of them are available.” While that may be the case, the fact is that all of them are pending contract renewals, just like Hill’s.
Why does that matter? Because if there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that all three players want to get paid… a lot.
This off-season saw record-breaking contracts being awarded to wide receivers, essentially reshaping the market. That means every contract awarded to a receiver from now on will be looked at in comparison to them, particularly Hill’s, which led the way averaging $30 million a year.
What are the odds that all three of these teams will give up their receivers without issue?
While each of these three players would jump in as Gang Green’s top wide receiver, each of them has different abilities and would offer their own unique advantages. Let’s take a look at them.
DK Metcalf
It seems like ages ago, but in 2015 the Jets reaped the full benefits of what a true number one wideout can do on offense.
At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Brandon Marshall was an absolute freak of nature who could tackle just about anyone, while also being more than capable of separating downfield and only allowing an all-around security blanket for the then-quarterback his Ryan Fitzpatrick.
That’s exactly what DK Metcalf would offer for Zach Wilson.
At 6ft 4 and 235 pounds, Metcalf’s height is comparable to Marshall’s. The difference, however, is that Metcalf runs a 4.33 40-yard dash (compared to Marshall’s 4.52), which is ridiculous, especially for someone his size.
Another thing about Metcalf that head coach Robert Saleh is almost certainly a huge fan of is his performance. We know Saleh loves those hard-nosed players who put in 200 percent effort, and Metcalf definitely fits that bill. Look no further than his famous chase tackle against Budda Baker in the 2020 season.
DK Metcalf is FREAKY FAST. @dkm14
📺: #SEAvsAZ on NBC
📱: NFL App // Yahoo Sports App: https://t.co/FSTZl0ocgC pic.twitter.com/WSuLjzfIl3— NFL (@NFL) October 26, 2020
This one game not only showcases Metcalf’s insane speed and instincts, but also his relentless effort to save the game. The Jets need guys like this.
His intangibles aside, Metcalf is a walking touchdown on the gridiron. Despite a somewhat disappointing 2021 season in terms of mileage (he still amassed 967), he clinched 12 touchdowns, giving his team 72 points.
A reliable target in the red zone is something Zach Wilson badly needs, and when one of Metcalf’s caliber is available for the same deal package that was in place for Hill, it seems like a no-brainer.
Overall, the entire Seahawks team had a poor year, leaving Metcalf as one of the league’s top receivers in 2022, despite a somewhat underwhelming mileage in 2021. Simply put, he would be a perfect “WR1” for Zach Wilson.
AJ Brown
The situation with Brown is interesting. While there’s no real indication the Titans would even consider trading him, it’s common knowledge that he and Jets receiver Elijah Moore lived together in college and are very close friends. For this reason alone, his name has been touted as a potential commercial target for Douglas.
That is, until Saturday, when Brown – who is again up for a contract extension – tweeted an interesting message, reading: “It’s out of my hands. God I trust you!”
It’s out of my hands. God I trust you!
— AJ Brown (@1alwaysopen_) March 26, 2022
As is essentially standard practice for professional athletes on Twitter, Brown didn’t provide any context for the tweet. Of course, Jets Nation exploded, understandably assuming it had something to do with his contract negotiations. For now, that’s all we have to assume regarding Brown’s situation in Tennessee.
The former Ole Miss Rebel is 6ft 1 tall and weighs 225 pounds. He was drafted second round in 2019 and has become a force for the Titans over the past three seasons. He has caught 185 passes for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns. Without injuries in 2021, Brown would have started his career with three straight 1,000-yard seasons. He is currently just 24 years old.
Character wise he’s as good as they come. With a confidence that seems to straddle the line with cockiness perfectly, Brown is the type of receiver that perfectly fits the needs of an alpha dog. Nor does it have to be a football genius to see that he is one of the more naturally talented players in the entire league.
In college, Zach Wilson thrived by giving his receivers a chance to go upstairs and make a play. That happens to be where Brown thrives. In 2021, Brown had a controversial catch rate of 52.2%, which for comparison was higher than DeAndre Hopkins, Davante Adams, Stefon Diggs, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Mike Evans, among others.
Mathematically, Brown could top the list of the NFL’s best receivers in just a few short years. If the Jets can somehow pull such a player away from right under Tennessee’s nose, it might be safe to start building the Joe Douglas statue outside of MetLife Stadium immediately.
Debbo Samuel
Samuel is by far the most unique player of the three. In fact, it’s pretty hazy as to whether he’s even a receiver — some would say he’s more of a running back.
But don’t let that fool you; 6ft tall, 216lb Samuel is one of the best young playmakers in the league. He finished his 2021 breakout season with 1,405 yards (almost half of those yards came after catch) and six touchdowns with 365 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
By the end of the season, Samuel had totaled 1,770 yards in offense and 14 touchdowns for the 49ers — the literal definition of production.
Especially on the Jets offense, which is derived from that of Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, the strengths and elite qualities that Samuel has already used so effectively – yards after catch, quick twitches, skill – would only develop under Mike La Fleur.
We’ve already seen the insane possibilities LaFleur can create – it’s hard to imagine the kind of weirdness and innovation he could create for Samuel.
Why spend all the time and effort finding someone to fill that “Deebo Samuel role” on the Jets offense when you could have Deebo Samuel fill the Deebo Samuel role?
The only concern Samuel brings is the fact that prior to this season he displayed a worrying inability to stay healthy. However, when you combine his rare talent with the fact that he ended the 2021 season mostly healthy, it seems Samuel is worth the risk.
We now know for certain that Joe Douglas is desperate to add a number one wide receiver to the Jets roster. Whether that comes in the draft or via a trade for one of these players, one thing is for sure: Zach Wilson needs as much support as he can get.