NY Jets: Team should target Jared Cook

The NY Jets could use a premier tight end to add another dimension to their offense. With Jared Cook recently being released, he could be exactly what they’re looking for.

The Jets should try and acquire recently cut tight end Jared Cook who was released by the St. Louis Rams.  The Jets have several needs including a pass catching tight end like who can also block, which should make him enticing to the Jets who need depth at that position.  The combination of Jace Amaro and Cook could be dangerous.

The Jets are in what I have called a few times “salary cap purgatory” this offseason.  According to Spotrac, assuming the cap with go up to $154M the Jets, the Jets will have $9,056,364 in cap space.  That means the Jets will have some maneuvering to get to a reasonable number to sign free agents and having a cheap option on the market is great for the Jets.

The will likely cut players to get that number.  The most likely cuts being Jeremy Kerley, Jeff Cumberland and Antonio Cromartie.  They will also have to work out deals to restructure the contracts of D’Brickashaw Ferguson (who may be a cap casualty himself if they can’t) and Darrelle Revis.

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The Rams recently cut Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Cook to save themselves $24M in cap space.

They’re moving to Los Angeles next season, and the attraction of the city of angels plus the added salary cap space would lure free agents there.

The Jets are in need of a pass catching tight end like Cook that can add another dimension to their overall offensive production.  Cook made his NFL debut in 2009 with the Tennessee Titans and has been decent throughout his career.  In 2009, he wasn’t a starter, but he played 14 games was targeted 15 times and caught 9 passes.

It wasn’t a good look for a rookie, but it was definite a sign he was adjusting to the NFL game.  Since then he has blossomed into a viable pass catcher from that position.

Since his second season he hasn’t had fewer that 45 targets in a year, and has had at least 73 in each of his last five seasons.  He has averaged at least 12 yards per reception in five of his last six seasons (with 11.9 being his lowest), and has 16 career touchdowns.

While he didn’t get in the end zone this season, he has 75 targets, 29 catches and averaged 12.3 yards per catch.  As a team, the Jets had 25 targets, 8 catches and averaged 11.9 yards per catch, but Kellen Davis did manage one touchdown.

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According to Sporting Charts, Cook played in 70.2% of the Rams’ snaps and Amaro played in 34.3% of the Jets’ snaps in his rookie season in 2014.  Amaro had 38 receptions for a 9.1 average and two touchdowns in his rookie season.

Having Amaro and Cook on the front line could be a formidable receiving corps with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. Despite solid production, Cook can’t command top dollar or even what I would consider high or mid-tier dollars.  He’s a solid tight end and could be in the price range of the Jets, plus he could be a mentor to future draft day targets and Amaro.