5 sleeper wide receivers Jets could draft if they miss on Makai Lemon

The New York Jets would likely be jumping for joy if one of the top three wide receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft, in Ohio State's Carnell Tate, USC's Makai Lemon, or Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, were available at No. 16 overall. Of those three, Lemon may be the most likely to slide to their range.

The Jets may need to prepare for a world where Lemon isn't there for them. Rather than reaching for a receiver, it might be better for them to use one of their later picks in a fairly deep class to give this offense the supplemental pop it needs to really thrive.

These five players may not come to the Jets on Day 1, but they can still be brought in much later in the Draft as a consolation prize for missing out on Lemon. These three could immediately step in as the No. 3 wide receiver behind Adonai Mitchell and Garrett Wilson.

5 alternate WR options for the Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft

5. CJ Daniels, Miami

Daniels is not going to blow anyone away with his athletic ability, and that lack of explosion will hurt his stock, but he is a very smooth route-runner with great hands and the ability to get open against zone coverage. Daniels is also one of the better blocking receivers in this class.

4. Reggie Virgil, Texas Tech

Skinny receivers (187 pounds at 6-foot-3) with drop issues might be a hard sell, but Virgil is going to be picked somewhere early on Day 3 thanks to a tantalizing combination of deep ball tracking, speed, and route-running that this Jets offense lacks right now.

3. Jeff Caldwell, Cincinnati

Caldwell has just 32 D-1 catches to his name, but at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds with an 11-foot broad jump and 4.31 speed, Caldwell is the best athlete at the position in this class. Caldwell's physical tools and wide catch radius give him starting X receiver potential in the NFL.

2. Bryce Lance, North Dakota State

The younger brother of Trey Lance, the Bison's latest No. 5 is a premier deep threat with very sticky hands and the speed to get behind defenders. His 6-foot-3 frame was on the receiving end of many a go-ball from Cole Payton in this past season.

1. Ted Hurst, Georgia State

Hurst has been rocketing up draft boards in the last few months, as concerns about his hands have been nullified by his combination of great size, solid speed, and impressive quickness. Even as a rookie, Hurst would win the WR3 job almost immediately.