Position Overview: Wide Receivers

Edition #1108: We're getting back to reviewing the positions one at a time, today it's the improved wide receiver core.

Good Morning ☕

With one quick trade the New England Patriots drastically improved their wide receiver core. Adding a 3x Pro Bowler and 3x Second Team All-Pro will do that.

The Jets didn’t swing for the fences like the Patriots did, but it would be hard to argue that they didn’t improve their receiving core heading into 2026.

Today we’re going to take a look through all 12 wide receivers on the Jets expanded off-season roster. Who’s going to make it, who’s going to have to settle for the practice squad, and who will be looking for new employment.

As a Knicks fan it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t mention that Game 1 of the NBA finals takes place tonight. Garrett Wilson mentioned the atmosphere and excitement around NY thanks to the Knicks and hoped that Jets fans won’t have to wait too long to experience the same thing. For everything Knicks, Jonathan Macri has you covered, you won’t find a better outlet.

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NEWS & NOTES 🗞️

• According to Spotrac, after all June 1st designations have been taken into consideration the Jets have the 4th highest dead cap in the league at $111 million. The Dolphins are #1 carrying a staggering $179M in dead cap.

• The media were allowed access to OTA’s yesterday and based on most reports, Cade Klubnik had a really tough day throwing an INT and suffering from some accuracy issues. Geno was much better, but he also threw an INT to Demario Davis. The offense were in 3rd and long drills, so it was a tough assignment to begin with.

• Younghoe Koo went 3-5 and Cade York having recovered from his groin injury went 4-5. Apparently Koo’s misses were very bad misses, one from around 54 yards and the other from around 45 yards.

• Nice for our newsletter subject today, the receivers had a good day yesterday with Isaiah Williams the star, followed by AD Mitchell and even a good grab from Arian Smith.

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The Wide Receiver Room: Rundown 🟢⚪🗽

I have to admit that I’m pretty excited to see the Jets passing game this season.

Last year the Jets finished dead last with 140.3 passing yards per game under former OC Tanner Engstrand. Poor QB play, lack of depth, poor play design and Garrett Wilson missing a huge chunk of the season were to blame.

Entering this season there is hope that the combination of Frank Reich’s experience, Garrett Wilson’s health and Geno Smith’s arm will lead the Jets to better things. Nobody is expecting us to have the #1 passing attack but I think if we finished outside the top 16-17, there will be plenty of disappointed fans.

Whenever we start a look like this it’s worth remembering that anything can happen over the course of an off-season. For Jets fans who remember Wayne Chrebet which should be every Jets fan, you can start at the bottom of the depth chart in June and still make the team in August.

This is just how I see things right now and I’m only naming two starters for the sake of this piece. Last year the Jets broke camp with 6 receivers (Wilson, Reynolds, Lazard, Johnson, Smith, Gipson). If we’re being completely honest, it wouldn’t be hard to get a better collection of receivers.

THE STARTERS
Garrett Wilson, Omar Cooper Jr.

🟢 This is where the Jets like every other team will win through the air. Garrett Wilson is one of the better receivers in the league, is he top 5? Probably not. Is he top 10? I think he is, in the right situation and with the right QB. The Jets in 2026 with Geno Smith might tick both boxes.

Wilson had three straight 1000 yards seasons out of college before being limited to 7 games (395 receiving yards) last season. That level of consistency considering the turnover in QBs, HC’s and OC’s is pretty remarkable. He’s spoken of his love for the Frank Reich system and while Geno is turnover prone, he’ll give his receivers a chance to make plays down the field.