The Importance of signing Eric Decker and Breno Giacomini

Jan 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker (87) can not make a catch while defended by New England Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan (26) during the first quarter during the 2013 AFC championship playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

After a slow first say of free agency when the Jets did not make a move besides coming to terms on a four year deal with kicker Nick Folk, day two of free agency was action packed for the Green and White. Just hours after the Jets world was in disgust after former Jets cornerback Darelle Revis came to terms on a deal with the division rival New England Patriots for one year and $12 million, John Idzik struck a deal with former Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker.

The Jets signed Decker to a five year deal worth $36.25 million and $15 million guaranteed. When all is said and done, that is about an average of 7 million a year, which in my opinion is a fair deal for both the Jets and Decker.

There has always been talk of a guy being a ” number one receiver” or a ” number two receiver” but the way Jets fans should look at it is that the Jets just got arguably the best wide receiver in free agency. Is he a number one? Maybe. Is he a number two? Possibly. At the end of the day, Eric Decker is a terrific receiver who instantly improves the Jets offense.

While having Decker is important, adding another wide receiver to the mix would be ideal for John Idzik. There are multiple reports saying that the Jets have ” strong interest” in former Packers wide receiver James Jones. Adding both Jones and Decker makes the receiving core go from mediocre, to a very respectable group. If Jones is signed, the Jets would have signed two of the biggest receivers on the open market. Adding a guy like Jones may also eliminate the need to draft a receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft come May, and it would instead allow John Idzik to address other positions of need with the pick.

About an hour before the signing of Decker became official, the Jets came to an agreement on a deal with former Seahawks offensive lineman Breno Giacomini. This was a solid move that needed to be made once Jets right tackle Austin Howard agreed to a contact with the Oakland Raiders. Giacomini is a versatile player who has the ability to play both guard and tackle, but I expect him to be the Jets starting right tackle come week 1. The terms of his contract with the Jets have not been released yet.

The signing of both Decker and Giacomini are nice moves made by GM John Idzik. It allows the Jets to focus on other areas of need, such as cornerback, safety, and offensive guard. Idzik seems to have a plan of his own, and majority of what he has done before has been done behind closed doors. Look for Idzik to be aggressive throughout free agency, but only striking a deal if he feels it is a smart move for the Jets.