Buzz: Jets Searching for a Large Target?
Speculation has been rampant that the Jets are in the market for a bigger receiver to bolster their receiving corps … is there anything to that or is it just speculation by writers and fans? Although this is pretty stale, Keary Colbert (now of the Broncos) had been interviewed by a TV station in Denver a while back, and talked about his free agent experience.
Josina: What other teams were you considering signing with?
Keary: I was looking at Oakland, the Jets. Those are probably really the main ones. Those are the ones that I guess you can say I was setting up trips to go and visit. Denver was the first place I visited … I was fortunate enough and blessed enough to only have to make one trip and find a home and I am ready to get started.
As Tannenbaum would say, sometimes the deals you don’t make are the best ones. Colbert would have offered some size and separation deep (which is something for which the Jets are looking), but beyond that, he wouldn’t do much for the roster other than create a new Justin McCareins. With a number of roleplayers battling for the four & five spots, the Jets would be wiser to try and find someone they can develop by the draft. All that said, I think Brad Smith is poised for a big season as he grows into the role and he has the size & speed that everyone is clamoring about. The Jets saw this as a need three years ago, and it’s time for that investment to pay off.
31 Responses to Buzz: Jets Searching for a Large Target?
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ramble914 says:
Chad Johnson is a cancer, no body can control him. He is a malcontent who will never be happy, let someone else deal with that.
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wahooRuss says:
I like Chad Johnson a lot. He’s a great players on has fun playing the game. We just can’t afford him, plain and simple.
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Dave75 says:
That may be so, but he’s still one of the most talented guys in the league. WHy not roll the dice. We were 4-12 last year, remember? THis guy could definitley help get us over the hump, not to mention we could possibly package Robertson and a pick and not be affected too much as far as salary goes
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Vbsiena24 says:
And give our high 2nd this year and possibly a 1st next year? No freakin way.
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Mikey says:
Chad Johnson is not a cancer, and would be absolutely IDEAL for this team. The Jets do no have an identity, and they havent had one for years. Chad Pennington was our “leader” for the past 5 years, meanwhile 75% of Jets fan wanted him out of there. Johnson plays hard, and is a winner. He could also develop in the vocal leader of the offense, which besides being enimic last year was also boring. Other than when leon touches the ball, nobody on the Jets offense scares me. Johnson would put fear in the defense and would make the other WRs so much better.
The Jets should offer to swap 1st round picks (#6 for #9) and then give #36 for Johnson. We will still get an elite talent at #9, and Johnson is better than any wideout we’d get anywhere in this draft.
Personally, I believe WR is the biggest need in this draft. I think Coles and Cotchery are great, but they could be so much better with another receiver. Mel Kiper Jr’s latest mock has Limas Sweed falling to the Jets at #36. If you could tell me that that would happen, i’d sign on the dotted line, and i’d take Gholston and Sweed. That would fill our two biggest needs, and then in a deep CB draft, maybe we could go out and get some talent there.
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howard tish says:
Anyone who believes that the Jets do not necessarily have to draft a WR must be a Pats fan. Coles (not getting any younger) and Cotch are both quality possession receivers. Smith is a decent # 4 and the group of kids, led by Wright are all reasonably good contenders for the fifth spot. What is missing is the #3 receiver who can stretch the field. Size would clearly be beneficial and there are many receivers in this draft that can fill the job description. My personal fave is Jerome Simpson, but he is no longer a secret and will most likely not make it to the 4th round. A fast, tall WR + McFadden would elevate the Jet offense to having two more “playmakers” then they presently have.
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cbiscuit says:
I think the Jets should also keep a close eye on Kentucky TE Jacob Tamme. I’ve watched him first hand throughout his career. Tamme won a state championship every year in high school, where he played wideout and was team captain. He also excelled at basketball and is a tremendous athlete.
He bulked up to play tight end in college and is one of the fastest, if not the fastest guy at his spot in the draft. He is an outstanding character guy – graduated early and will complete work on his Masters this year and has won multiple academic awards. He has great hands, could run the seam and be a difficult matchup for most LBs/safeties and provide a big red zone target. He will catch anything thrown his way. He loves the game and will work from day 1 to make himself better.
The knock on him from the Sr. Bowl and combine is his blocking ability, size and strength. He is projected to go in rounds 4/5. We would be wise to snap him up with one of our 4th round picks.
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Howard tish — Not wanting a WR in the draft doesn’t make someone a Pats fan … that’s a ridiculous statement.
WRs are just as likely to be grown as drafted high … who had a more long-lasting impact on the Jets — Wayne Chrebet or Keyshawn Johnson?
WRs making a significant amount of catches in their first season is the exception rather than the rule. The Jets drafted Smith with the hope to move him into a starting role eventually, he’s not there yet, that much is clear. But with Coles & Cotch on the roster there’s no spot for him to start anyway. Although I like receivers like Hardy, Sweed, etc, the soonest they would be ready for primetime is at least two years. It’s anecdotal, but highly drafted receivers seem a 50/50 shot to be busts.
Smith might not ever be anything above a #2, but he’s a legit player and made some major improvement last year … look for that trend to continue in 2008.
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GregNJ says:
Mikey, I can’t even argue that. I completely agree with everything you said. Chad wants to be where he feels like he has a organization and a coach that will back him everytime he steps on the field. He also wants to win and with the way the Jets are going with free agency and a New Complex in Florham Park; things like this lead me to believe players want to be where they feel they have the best chance to win. This gives players, coaches and teams a competitive advantage. Chad to the Jets would be a great piece of dealing if Tangini were to work this out and still get rid of D-Rob.
Limas Sweed second round is Ideal as well.
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The Pats reference was made in jest. And I’m not suggesting that the Jets reach for a WR at the 6 spot. All I’m saying is that picking a potential impact WR is a need that the Jets appeared to be overlooking when you posted a list of players invited for interviews. A CB to eventually start opposite Revis, a safty to play with Rhodes, a quality DE and an inside LB to eventually replace Barton still remain their greatest need. But to ignore the need for a WR who goes deep is just foolish.
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MB927LI says:
Highly rated WR’s coming into the draft are far from a sure thing, plenty of great WR’s are drafted in the later rounds. To me the best quality in a WR isn’t his height and speed it’s his work ethic, the guys who will spend all night working on their routes.
Thats what the Jets are looking for High Character, Strong work ethic. Chad Johnson does not fit that character in my mind.
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tommiesmithjohncarlos says:
There is nothing wrong with acquiring Chad Johnson other than the fact that he won’t be traded because he’ll cause an $8M hit against their cap if they move him, and he’ll require giving up a 1st rounder plus more. They can’t afford to move him, we can’t afford to get him.
Moreover, we do need to upgrade our WR corps, but not as much as we need to upgrade our defense. We still don’t have enough passrushers or cover corners. Those are priorities # 1 and 2. This is why we should trade down, to acquire an additional pick in the 2nd or 3rd round with which to select a WR. Until we have that extra pick, we can’t consider taking a wideout.
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Johnny Styne says:
Chad will kill Chad if Chad has to catch passes from Chad.
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Listen guys, this draft is particularly weak at Wr and thereis a proven guy out there who can come in and make an impact right away for this team. given the improved O-Line whoever is slingin it will have more time to get him the ball. I lke the idea of swapping third rounders but I think they should hold on to 36 and possibly dump next year 2nd round pick in the deal. Or find a way to to include D-Rob in the deal or else financially the deal won’t work out
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I meant swapping 1st rounders
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This is a weak WR class and most of the top guys could drop to the 2nd round. It usually takes 1-2 years to learn the system and adjust to the NFL. We will be a ‘run-first’ team and agree we should let Smith, Stuckey and others take their shot this year. Look elsewhere with the 2nd round pick and see what’s available in later round.
Even if Tangini would consider Ocho Cinquo (which they won’t) CIN would want top dollar in compensation. That means 2 1st rounders. Throw in DRob and you might get that down to a 1st and a 4th. No way.
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Chad’s contract calls for him to make $3M this year, with a $3.4M bonus. That means trading Chad will only cost CIN $400k in cap space. Aside from his antics, the problem for any team that takes him, is he will want to renegotiate his deal and wants to be the highest paid WR in the league.
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jvsvn says:
I agree that highly drafted WRs are risky but so what. What should we do? Not even attempt to upgrade a position that clearly needs it? Trying to find the guy that is the real player and not the bust is the GMs job, it’ s why he gets the big bucks.
When I say “real” player don’t come at me with Wayne Chrebet. Like any real Jets fan, I love Wayne Chrebet. but thats not what I’m talking about. Jerhico Cotchery is about as good a replacement for Chrebet as you could find. What I’m talking about is a guy that through sheer athleticism and/or size creates a match up problem for the defense and does it within the base offense. The Jets simply don’t have a guy like that. It’s why we spend so much time developing trick plays and “packages” for Brad Smith (I like Brad Smith so this is not a “bash” of him at all).
Guys like TO or even Plaxico or Chad Johnson aren’t “developed” in the same way as other players. They start by bringing something special to the table.
Unlike others on this board, I just don’t follow things closely enough to know whether any of the WR prospects in this draft has that kind of talent. But if there are guys that do, then the Jets would be doing well by grabbing one of them if they can.
By the way, the argument that WRs take a couple years to show dividends is very valid. But again, so what? Here’s a news flash – the Jets will probably not win the Super Bowl this year. If you’re going to build the team, then build the team!
The Jets have other needs beside WR. If they go in another direction i this year’s draft it could be totally valid. However, lets not pretnd that anyone on the current roster has shown the kind of playmaking skills I’m taking about.
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jvsn – the problem is, all the top choices are flawed to some degree. In hindsight, SD giving up their pick for Chris Chambers last year looks great, because Chambers is head and shoulders above everyone in this class. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take a wideout, I just wouldn’t risk a high pick on one.
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If you check my previous post, you could get a big red zone target (a pressing need) in TE Tamme in round 4/5. Eddie Royal – burner out of VaTech should also be available in rounds 3/4 – would also be a great pickup.
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HOZ THE JET says:
if we can trade for 85 and draft mcfadden to go along with coles;cotchery,jones;franks;;baker;washington and richardson aii of a sudden we will have the most dangerous off. in the league and you can take that to the bank!
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cbiscuit – what you say may be true and your point valid. As I said, I’m simply not in a position to be able to evaluate WR prospects, It’s not my expertise.
However, there aren’t too many “Peyton Mannings” in any draft. What usually happens is that out of the top 5 prospects at any postion 1 is a star, 1 is a legitimate starter/pro bowl caliber player, 1 is good but a disappointment based on draft position, 1 is a bust and turns into a journeyman, and 1 is a total bust and is out of the league in a year or two. Among WRs, the percentages are probably a little lower. Knowing who is who is the difference between Scott Pioli and Terry Bradway (with a lot of luck thrown in).
I’m not saying that the Jets MUST draft a WR if the right opportunity doesn’t present itself. There are other needs that would be totally legitimate to address. I was more laying out my reasoning about the Jets need to figure out some way, at some time to acquire a true #1 receiver with the skills I talked about. In my mind, it’s just one of the things the team needs to do to be able to consistently play at a higher level.
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i keep hearing detroit has roy williams on the block and they have instrest in d.rob do you think we can work out a package?
getting williams, coles can move to #2 spot cotchery can move back in to the slot and if we can draft mcfadden oh my god they will make clemens look like a pro bowler with that rocket lazer arm!!!
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I would take either of tose 2 wr’s if theprice is right HOZ. I don’t think the Jets would ave signed Frnaks if they were going to draft a TE in rd. 3. Round 5 seems more likely if they are even looking to draft at that position. Thing is, if the jets draft McFadden then Leon Washington will see no touches at all. he’s been to valuable a player over the past 2 years to just have him watch from the sidelines. heck, the Jets players voted him MVP last year. Gholston looks more and more like the pick, forget the kid McKlevon out of Troy, too much risk. Take a guy who knows how to win and is used to it.
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neil herschkowitz says:
A big receiver that can get separation in the secondary stretches defenses and opens up many possibilities. for both the running and passing game. I still remember Wesley Walker…. 6’1″ about 197, could run like a deer…good hands…now he could stretch the field and create opportunities….and excitement.
We need someone like him…maybe 10 pounds heavier and an inch taller ., and a QB that can get him the ball.
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Sean says:
Styne: Agree completely. Chad will absolutely kill Chad if he has to catch Chad’s passes from Chad.
In fact, I dont think Ocho Cinco would even come here with the prospect of having Pennington throwing him the ball.
I give LC a tremendous amount of credit. He and CP are very close despite the fact that CP hangs him out to dry and is the primary cause for all of those concussions.
Listen, I like CP. Really, I do. But I feel bad for guys like LC and JC. Both of whom would be much better if they had a WB who could get them the ball quicker which would give them a chance to make people miss.
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howard … sorry I misread that … apologies … seemed out of character! dang no tone on websites!!! :)
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Maybe we can have Chad run down field and catch his own passes….they take long enough to get there, and then he can experience first hand what it feels like to catch one….if it doesn’t get intercepted first.
Then again you never know, maybe the time he had to rest in the off season will make a difference. Chad has done some amazing things. I know ‘m dreaming here.
The other Chad is a selfish sort of fellow, and not cut of Jet material. Let him stay where he is, or go elsewhere.
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Bent says: Hoz, Roy Williams contract is up in one year and he reportedly wants $30m guaranteed. We can’t afford that.
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DSmizzle says:
Haha, Chad should be forced to taste his own medicine on his hospital balls!
Chad johnson wants out fo Cincy. Can we bring him in please tangini?