Content available exclusively for subscribers
This happens all the time, especially with the prevalent Fantasy Football worldview of so many.
You will hear that cry, about many teams – “They don’t have enough weapons!”
How many off-seasons have we heard that about the Jets? Many.
And now the perception is, aside from Garrett Wilson, the Jets have a dearth of passing game weapons.
“Nothing about the rest of the receiving corps suggests the Jets should expect to fling the ball around with success,” wrote ESPN’s Bill Barnwell. “Allen Lazard got off to a hot start last season, but after a midseason injury and the arrival of Adams, he was essentially being paid to run wind sprints down the stretch. Malachi Corley taken with the first pick of the third round a year ago, had 16 receiving yards. The offseason additions included veteran wideout Josh Reynolds who was cut in midseason by the Broncos, and second-round tight end Mason Taylor who plays a position where it’s often difficult to make an impact as a rookie, Brock Bowers, aside.”
A lot to unpack here.
First of all, the Jets don’t have a shortage of weapons.
Lazard is a good player. He was destroyed a couple of years ago by many in the echo chamber for his work playing with Zach Wilson, who doesn’t throw with anticipation, fixates on his first read, and often delivers the ball late.
You saw last year, with a top-shelf QB, he is a good player.
I heard this philosophy a long time ago and it’s still rings true – “Quarterbacks make receivers, receivers don’t make quarterbacks.”
This isn’t to say you don’t need talented receivers, but you need a good QB for a passing game to come to life, a guy who sees the field well and delivers on time.
Most guys with enough talent to make the league will deliver when they have a signal-caller like this.
How many star receivers did Tom Brady have in New England?
The Jets have enough weapons.
Aside from the underrated Lazard, who the echo chamber turned on, who at 6-5, 225 pounds, is a terrific target in the red zone and on 50-50 balls, they also have a quick-footed slot receiver in Xavier Gipson, who looked good in the spring. As for Corley, we got into him yesterday, but anybody questioning that pick after just a year is a moron. It’s well documented he’s a rugged receiver who is very good at YAC. Reynolds is a solid #2 receiver who has 233 career catches, and the eight-year veteran looked like a seasoned pro all spring.
Other guys in the room aren’t big names, but have talent like young vets Brandon Smith, Tyler Johnson and Irv Charles, along with rookies Jamaal Pritchett, Quintin Skinner, and Arian Smith.
Sometimes, when some reporters and fans evaluate a team’s receivers, if they aren’t familiar with a name, they are dismissive, but I’m not one of those people.
Keep an eye on some of these lesser-known names – they have talent.
Brandon Smith is very underrated – a former UFL standout, he has good size and tracks the ball well downfield.
And when talking about weapons in the passing game, you can’t leave out Breece Hall, one of the best receiving backs in the league.
The bottom line is the Jets have enough weapons.
As long as the QB does his job, delivering the ball on time and throws with anticipation, they should be fine.
July 9, 2025
Premium will return by 9:30 pm (or sooner) on Thursday.
