Jordan Schultz reported that the Jets didn’t offer WR John Metchie the restricted tender offer, so he will be a free agent.
So now people are banging the drum for the Jets to pick a WR at 16.
Even with Metchie’s possible departure, the Jets should still not pick a receiver at 16.
You can find receivers, but difference-makers on defense are harder to find, especially ones locked up on a cost-effective rookie contract for at least three years.
The Jets’ defense was historically bad last year. They need 6-7 new starters through the draft and free agency. They need new starters on all three levels of their defense.
If they can get two defensive starters in the first round, that is probably the way to go. If the grades are close between a defensive and offensive prospect when the Jets are on the clock at 16, they should probably go defense.
And they probably have their top three receivers in-house, even if Metchie is out of the picture.
Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell are expected to start on the outside, and Isaiah Williams is perfect for the slot role. Not only did Williams shine as a returner last year, but he also did some terrific work down the stretch as a receiver. He has top-shelf short-area quickness, a good quality for a slot receiver.
And the Jets should absolutely add a receiver or two in free agency, with Christian Kirk, Wan’Dale Robinson, Hollywood Brown, and Calvin Austin some of the available players. Maybe even make a run at Alec Pierce, who played for new Jets OC Frank Reich in Indianapolis in 2022, so he’s very comfortable in the Jets’ new system.
So even with the Metchie news, the Jets still should try to avoid picking a receiver in the first round.
This isn’t fantasy football.
They have a broken defense to fix.
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