NY Jets’ offensive weapons ranked among the NFL’s worst

The NY Jets’ offensive weapons were recently ranked among the NFL’s worst by ESPN.

The NY Jets went into the offseason with a clear goal in mind of revamping the offense — an offense that finished deal last in the NFL last year despite some promising pieces.

But for one reason or another, nothing seemed to click. And it became increasingly apparent that something (multiple somethings) needed to be done to fix the NFL’s worst offensive unit.

That started with bolstering the offensive line which the Jets seemed to do with the additions of players like Mekhi Becton, Connor McGovern, and Greg Van Roten. But the Jets’ skill positions needed some improvement as well.

Specifically, the wide receiver position.

Incumbent No. 1 receiver Robby Anderson departed in free agency and the Jets brought in the likes of Breshad Perriman and Denzel Mims to hopefully improve one of the worst receiving corps in the league last season.

And while there’s still work to be done, the offense seems much-improved on paper. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the opinion shared by most analysts.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently ranked all 32 team’s offensive weapons and the Jets predictably finished near the bottom of the list. In fact, only three teams were ranked below the Jets as they came in at a measly No. 29 overall.

This was a nine-spot drop from last year’s rankings that placed them at No. 20 overall, but an improvement from two years ago where they ranked dead last at No. 32.

Barnwell cited the difficulties faces by running back Le’Veon Bell last season as well as the team’s questionable receivers for their low ranking.

Below is an excerpt from Barnwell’s passage about the Jets.

“After ranking last in 2017 and 2018, the additions of Le’Veon Bell and Jamison Crowder helped push the Jets toward the middle of the pack last offseason. Crowder lived up to expectations, but Bell was a disaster.

Sam Darnold’s receiving corps got a makeover, with Breshad Perriman coming in for Robby Anderson and second-round pick Denzel Mims moving in for Demaryius Thomas; in both cases, the Jets are swapping a higher floor for a higher ceiling. Quincy Enunwa’s career might be over after suffering a neck injury. The big unknown is Chris Herndon.”

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Barnwell’s criticisms about the NY Jets’ offensive weapons are questionable, but valid.

It’s interesting to see that Barnwell didn’t exactly lambaste the Jets’ offensive weapons. Rather, he implied that there were a lot of question marks in the unit. Essentially, he was saying that their performance this season is as volatile as it gets.

For that reason, it does seem as though the Jets’ No. 29 ranking is a little low, if you’re basing if off that logic. Still, it’s hard to argue that they don’t below near the bottom of the NFL.

Barnwell did make an excellent point in calling tight end Chris Herndon a “big unknown.” The 2018 fourth-round pick looked to be on the verge of becoming one of the better young tight ends in the NFL before his 2019 season was rendered completely meaningless.

Now going into 2020, Herndon will have an opportunity to either pick up where he left off or decline and force the Jets to rethink their long-term plans at the position.

But to do either, he must stay healthy.

The Jets’ offensive weapons look thin going into 2020, but there are reasons for optimism. However, until proven otherwise, they certainly belong towards the bottom of the NFL’s rankings.