Jets can only laugh as Patriots swing and miss on position of greatest need

One of the most high-profile players on Day 1 of the legal tampering period was Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. He was arguably the top pass catcher available on the open market, and ended up returning to Indianapolis on an earth-shattering four-year, $114 million deal.

There were multiple teams in the mix for Pierce, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers. According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Pierce turned down more money to stay with the team that drafted him.

Another team listed as a suitor for the former Cincinnati Bearcat was the New England Patriots, who were obviously trying to get another weapon for third-year quarterback Drake Maye. New York Jets fans can take a step back and laugh at the expense of their hated AFC East rival for trying so hard but failing to land a premier offensive weapon.

After all, there isn't much else for Jets fans to laugh at after the Patriots stole Alijah Vera-Tucker from them.

Jets have one thing they can laugh at the Patriots about

Even though the Jets weren't necessarily in on Pierce's market, fans can always take pride in the shortcomings of a team for which there's no love lost.

After releasing Stefon Diggs before the start of the legal tampering period, New England is certainly in need of more playmakers. They ended up bringing in former Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, but he wasn't the top-of-the-market pass catcher Pierce is.

What the Patriots can hold over the heads of the Jets, though, is the Vera-Tucker signing. Even though it seems like New York wasn't pulling out all the stops on retaining their former first-round pick, it still stings seeing him turn heel and agree to terms with arguably the team's largest source of pain over the last quarter-century.

Yes, the Patriots can still flaunt the fact that they were able to speedrun their ascent back to contention, something the Jets have failed to do since the glory days of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez.

But fans need something, and the Pierce whiff can be that one thing that holds them over until the Jets finally turn a corner and flip the rivalry with New England on its head.