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It’s too early to know how this is going to look . . .
Talking about what to make of the Jets’ 2020 receiving corps.
To rank them 31st out of 32 teams, like PFF did earlier this week, is patently unfair.
First of all, none of us have any idea how second-round rookie Denzel Mims will perform. We all know he has an exotic size-speed ratio, but nobody knows if he will be a precocious rookie, or a rookie who’s head is spinning the whole season. It cuts both ways. Two second-round rookies last year, Tennessee’s A.J. Brown, and Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf, both from Ole Miss by the way, shined quickly. Brown had 52 catches and 9 touchdowns, and Metcalf had 58 catches and 7 touchdowns. Maybe Mims will be that kind of rookie receiver. Granted no minicamps won’t help, but nobody knows what he will do this year, so this is another reason to reserve judgement on the Jets’ receiving corps.
I suspect Breshad Perriman could very well exceed expectations. “Late bloomer” would be the best way to describe his NFL career. After entering the league as a first-round pick of Baltimore in 2015, he had some injury problems early on, and he was also raw as heck, leaving school after his junior year. And we are talking about Central Florida, so it’s not like a junior-eligible player out of Clemson or Alabama. Juniors outside the Power Five conferences, tend to be particularly raw due to the level of competition. Remember, he kind of came out of nowhere to become a first-round pick after running a crazy 40 at 6-2, 215 pounds. He ran under 4.3 at UCF’s Pro day. Before that spectacular workout, he wasn’t getting a lot of first-round buzz.
So he struggled with injuries and rawness early, and Baltimore eventually moved on, but he played very well the last couple of years, first in Cleveland, and then in Tampa Bay, and it looks like the lightbulb is starting to come on.
I think the Jets are getting him at the perfect time – he’s healthy and he gets it now.
Jamison Crowder is one of the league’s best slot receivers. Even during a season when the Jets passing offense was somewhat pedestrian, he put up good numbers, with 78 catches and 6 touchdowns. He’s a terrific route-runner, with tremendous short-area quickness to cut on a dime away from defensive backs. He did a terrific job last year of flashing open in Sam’s wheelhouse, over the shallow middle, to allow for some easy throws and catches.
Last year, the Jets signed Vyncint Smith off Houston’s practice squad in September, and while he did contribute a little bit, expect more this year. Remember, last year, he was learning the offense on the fly after arriving late. This year, he will know the system a lot better, and should have more of an impact. Like Mims and Perriman, he’s a tall, fast receiver who will climb the ladder to go up and get the rock.
There is some more inviting talent in the room, like speedy BC-product Jeff Smith, who was called up late last year, and can absolutely fly. Also in the mix are three receiver drafted by other teams, who all have legit talent, like former Washington first-round pick Josh Doctson, and middle round picks Josh Malone (Cincinnati) and Jehu Chesson (Kansas City).
I’m going to leave some people out, but another guy to keep an eye on is 6-5, 220-pound Lawrence Cager, who showed he can play with the big boys when he transferred to Georgia last year (from Miami), and had a solid season in the top college football conference, the SEC.
On paper, this isn’t a bad group.
July 16, 2020
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