Thoughts on the New York Jets’ Wide Receiver Position

Jun 17, 2014; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver

(87) makes a catch during minicamp at Atlantic Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

Training camp is rapidly approaching. First of all, thank goodness! If I had to be stuck watching the Mets and only the Mets for much longer I think I would go insane. We need some live football on the NFL Network, not only classic games anymore.

That being said, it’s time to start talking about some position battles upcoming at New York Jets camp. As we all know, there will be competition all over the field. One interesting position will be at wide receiver.

It becomes an interesting battle because there is no battle for the “number one” wide receiver position, which clearly belongs to Eric Decker. The question is, who is going to be number two?

Jeremy Kerley is terrific, but I don’t believe he is seen as a full-time starter on the outside. He has a stranglehold on the slot position. So, who is it going to be? Let’s talk candidates:

STEPHEN HILL:Here is a guy that we all love to hate. Why? Because he can’t hang on to the football. His one job is to catch the football when it is thrown at him, and he has some difficulty doing that. However, he will get his shot to again be the number two guy. Position coach Sanjay Lal is not ready to call him a bust, and reports are that he is looking better so far this summer.

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If it continues, Stephen will go ahead and be the number two. if not, I believe the next guy is going to fill the role.

DAVID NELSON: Standing at 6’5″ tall, David fits the bill of a guy that could take the number two role. Add that to his established chemistry with Geno Smith, and his chances are that much higher. Last season, David Nelson put up his second best season as a pro with 36 receptions for 423 yards and two touchdowns. He would be the favorite to win the job if Hill does not.

THE OTHERS, VETERANS: Nobody else has set the world on fire in this group, so we are going to take them in groups, the veterans, and the rookies. First the veterans.

The candidates are Michael Campbell, Jacoby Ford, Clyde Gates, Saalim Hakim, and Greg Salas. Michael Campbell hase been seen with the Jets, but has never been able to make the active roster, at least not yet. Gates and Salas played here last year, the others did not.

None of them jump out as a candidate for the number two job. It would take a lot for one of these guys to jump the depth chart.

THE OTHERS, ROOKIES: The rookie group consists of Jalen Saunders, Shaq Evans, and Quincy Enunwa. If anyone has a shot at moving up the depth chart, it is this group of rookies. In the John Idzik era, anyone has a shot. I see, however, the rookies landing at around third or fourth on the depth chart. It will take a big summer for one of these guys to leap-frog THAT far up the depth chart.

What do you guys think?