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Premium – There is no question the Jets are going to add a free agent wide receiver and another one in the draft. Perhaps more than one in each.
But while the “weapons lobby” acts like the cupboard is empty, there are actually four receivers under contract next year who are legitimate options.
Jeremy Kerley, David Nelson, Greg Salas and Stephen Hill are all signed for next season.
Kerley is a terrific slot receiver with the requisite short-area quickness desired at the position. He is superb at using his quickness to cut away from defenders. So the Jets are in good shape in the slot.
Nelson is very, very underrated, and too many fans and reporters are selling him short. He runs great routes, has soft hands, is an excellent blocker, has great size and is extremely bright (assignment savvy).
Remember, he signed at the end of September, and had to learn the offense on the fly, and finished with 36 catches in 12 games (six starts). Also keep in mind, that he blew out his knee in 2012, and missed most of the season in Buffalo. When he arrived in Florham Park, he hadn’t played football in a year. He was still getting his sea legs under him.
Nelson should be even better this year. Remember, doctors will tell you the second year back from an ACL is when you are truly back to 100 percent. Also, he will have an off-season to work with Geno Smith and get on the same page. I really like this player, and he can be a solid #2 or #3 wide receiver. In Buffalo, in 2011, his last full season, he had 61 catches and five touchdowns, starting opposite Stevie Johnson.
Salas was also coming off a knee injury when he arrived in Florham Park on October 15, 2013. In fact, he needed about a month of rehab with the Jets before he was ready to contribute. He also was learning the Jets’ on the fly, and at times, in games, needed some help from teammates pre-snap.
A whole off-season will allow him to learn the offense, get the knee truly back to 100 percent, and to get in-sync with Geno.
Salas was highly-regarded player coming out of Hawaii in 2011. As a senior he had 119 catches, and was picked in the fourth round by the St. Louis Rams. He has really good hands.
Nelson and Salas are signed for 2014 at the same salary ($645,000).
As for Hill, this is obviously a make-or-break season for him. 2014 was a rough year for him. He was banged up the entire year (the hit above didn’t help), and was finally shut down for the last month with a knee injury that hampered him the entire year.
For those that want to dump Hill, keep in mind releasing him would lead to a $1.3 million cap hit.
I don’t think he’s nearly as bad as some would lead you to believe. People like to point that fumble he had at New England down field, but keep in mind Aqib Talib kicked the ball out of his hands. It was Pele-like.
Some would leave you to believe he had a lot of drops last year, but he really didn’t.
I do think the Jets need to get a bonafide #1 receiver, either in the draft or free agency. There is no question about it.
But to me, slots 2-5 could be in decent shape.
Keep in mind that Geno’s accuracy and decision-making were wildly inconsistent as a rookie (which is common for young quarterbacks), so it didn’t always make him receiver-friendly.
So if he steps up in this regard, that will help guys like Nelson, Kerley, Salas and Hill show even more.
February 28, 2014
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