NY Jets: Ranking the 53-man roster — No. 3 Jamison Crowder

After another lost NY Jets season, it’s time to evaluate this 53-man roster. This daily ranking continues with No. 3, wide receiver Jamison Crowder.

The NY Jets went into the 2019 season with one of the largest free agency budgets in sports history.

While ex-general manager Mike Maccagnan signed (and drafted) his way out of the NFL, he got a few things rights, like his three-year $28.5 million ($17 million guaranteed) deal for Washington Redskins receiver Jamison Crowder.

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Considering the early season incompetence of quarterback whisperer Adam Gase’s league-worst offense, the 2015 fourth-round from Duke (All-ACC 2013-2014) delivered big-time with 78 receptions for 833 yards and six touchdowns.

Interestingly, his biggest games were in the first and last games of the season, both against the Buffalo Bills — the only New York football team currently playing home games in the state of New York.

In that crushing Kaare Vedvik moment Week 1 17-16 home loss, Crowder had a team-record 14 receptions for 99 yards. In the inspiring upstate final game win, he had eight receptions for 66 yards and a TD.

Crowder’s big games and M.I.A. moments, in fact, mirror the arc of the New York Jets 2019 season, with five of his six touchdown receptions during their robust 6-2 finish.

Gase had the following to say of Crowder after the season.

“All year he’s done a great job of being productive for us. When his number is called he’s been so extremely reliable. It seems like every ball that’s thrown to him — outside of the Baltimore one — has been caught. But then he redeemed himself the next play. He’s been probably one of the most consistent guys we’ve had throughout the entire year.”

With Robby Anderson‘s likely departure and Quincy Enunwa‘s gridiron future in question, Crowder will be the team’s only proven receiving commodity.

Vyncint Smith has high upside but can he be relied upon in a starting role? Gase doesn’t seem to look at Braxton Berrios beyond special teams.

Expect bold moves by Douglas and Gase to bring in two to three receivers, between the draft and free agency — the latter more probable in terms of game-ready contribution.

Sam Darnold needs more weapons in his arsenal on par of the excellence of 5-foot-9, 179-pound slot receiver Jamison Crowder.