Jets insider claims WR depth chart becoming clearer after latest update

The New York Jets are extremely thin at wide receiver, as one of the main competitions fans will be looking at in the lead-up to the 2025 season is the No. 2 wide receiver battle between two declining veterans in new addition Josh Reynolds and disappointing free agent signing Allen Lazard.

While Lazard might have more base physical talent, the latest update from the Jets beat makes it seem like Reynolds is putting a very strong case together. Lazard may be on the outside looking in. Is there a chance that Lazard isn't wearing green and white in the near future?

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, it is Reynolds, not Lazard, who has become the favorite to win the WR2 job. Part of the reasoning behind this assertion is a lingering suspicion that Lazard could end up being traded away to the Pittsburgh Steelers after they landed Aaron Rodgers.

While neither player is a particularly effective option, Reynolds is a much cheaper option than Lazard, who doesn't have two years of drop-laden bad will from the fan base attached to him. Reynolds could play a part in the team's ongoing effort to remove all the stink from the Rodgers era.

Rich Cimini says Josh Reynolds may be Jets WR2 over Allen Lazard

Not only was Reynolds a semi-reliable playmaker under Sean McVay in his time with the Los Angeles Rams, but he tallied over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns combined in the 2022 and 2023 seasons on Glenn's old Lions teams. 2024, however, was a complete nightmare for Reynolds.

Reynolds was waived after playing not even one full year of a two-year contract he signed with the Denver Broncos. After catching just 12 passes, Reynolds was wounded in a Denver-area shooting. The Jets are hoping that Reynolds will bounce back under familiar face Tanner Engstrand.

The veteran Reynolds would likely be the No. 4 target in the Jets' passing game. Garrett Wilson will obviously be the leader in the clubhouse as far as catches go, while dual-threat running back Breece Hall and second-round rookie tight end Mason Taylor will likely be second and third on the team in targets. This could mean Reynolds will get plenty of one-on-one matchups in New York.

If Engstrand unlocks the same version of Reynolds fans saw in Detroit, he could put up similar (if not better) production than Lazard without the drop issues that have unfortunately become his trademark.

More NY Jets news and analysis: