If the Jets learned anything from their 37-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, it's that they need to act quickly to fix the wide receiver position.
In the days leading up to the Jets' Week 7 showdown with the Vikings, New York's prospects at wideout were bleak.
Quincy Enunwa was ruled out early in the week with an ankle injury – he'll miss a few weeks – and on Saturday, Terrelle Pryor was released due to an on-going groin issue that was going to keep him out multiple weeks. This left New York with only four active wideouts – Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, Charone Peake and Andre Roberts. Deontay Burnett was added to the active roster at the last minute with the hope that he could provide some sort of spark, but the Jets were sorely mistaken.
To be blunt, New York's wide receivers were downright awful against the Vikings. The unit managed to only six receptions, with Anderson hauling in three of those catches himself. It was an abysmal performance by the group, one that made it hard for Sam Darnold to generate any offense.
What's a guy to do if his supposed playmakers either can't catch the ball or get open in the first place?
The good news is that there are plenty of good wide receivers available on the trade market and in free agency. After Sunday's performance, it would behoove Mike Maccagnan to make a move to land one of them.
Denver Broncos wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas are reportedly on the block. So is Oakland's Amari Cooper, according to Sports Illustrated. Any of those players would arrive in New York and not only make an instant impact, but likely become the team's No. 1 target. Anderson has not been consistent while serving as the No. 1 receiver and Kearse is a nice underneath route runner, but not a top option. Sanders, Thomas and Cooper all have game-breaking ability that can take an offense to the next level.
On the free agent market, the likes of Jeremy Maclin, Dez Bryant, Rishard Matthews and a familiar face, Jeremy Kerley, remain unsigned. They may not be No. 1 options, but they're improvements over what the Jets currently have at the position.
Moving forward, the Jets cannot afford to have Peake and Roberts lined up wide. Burnett has potential given his history with Darnold, but New York needs an influx of talent sooner rather than later. At 3-4, the season is not lost and there is still time for the Jets to make a run at competing for a playoff spot in the AFC.
That will not be possible without the addition of another weapon or two, though.
MORE:
One of these 5 NFL teams will win the Super Bowl
NFL fans had so many memes for Justin Tucker's stunned reaction to missed extra point
Did Vontaze Burfict deliberately twist an opponent's ankle again?
The 10 best Baker Mayfield face memes
Kareem Hunt's jaw-dropping hurdle made for a stunning photo
Source: Read Full Article