Jets should stop wasting time on WR who's already proven he's a liability

The New York Jets have a wide receiver problem. The WR2 spot on the depth chart behind Garrett Wilson is a problem. This isn't breaking news. However, heading into Week 2, there was some hope, no matter how slim, that Allen Lazard could provide a spark in his return to the lineup.

With Josh Reynolds out with a hamstring injury, Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills was Lazard's best shot to prove that he could be a factor and be a suitable running mate for Wilson.

For his part, Lazard said all the right things after being a healthy scratch in the opener as head coach Aaron Glenn decided to give him another week to "get up to speed" after missing time in training camp.

This isn't the Aaron Rodgers offense Lazard knows so well, not that that mattered a ton the last two years, as far as him performing as the Jets had hoped when they signed him to a surprisingly big contract. Still, some growing pains were expected, but Lazard's performance against Buffalo left much to be desired.

It's time for the Jets to make Allen Lazard take a back seat in the WR pecking order

Lazard played a total of 22 snaps on Sunday and ran just 10 routes. The Jets counted on him as a run blocker, with 12 rushing plays called when he was out there. Though the running game was stagnant for most of the day, Lazard did well as a run blocker with a 75.6 run blocking grade per PFF.

That part of his game has never been a question, but it's not enough alone to keep him on the field. Lazard failed to separate all game and finished his day with no catches and without a single target.

The Jets know what they have in Lazard at this point. He's a big body who fails to separate. He doesn't consistently attack the catch point, either, rendering his six-foot-five frame less effective than one might think. Most importantly, his questionable hands have led to drop rates of 17.9% in 2023 and a nearly identical 17.8% in 2024.

A receiver who struggles to separate, struggles to high-point the ball in contested catch situations, and struggles to reel it in when he is targeted is simply too much of a liability to consistently get run out there, regardless of how good his run blocking is.

That's where the Jets are with Lazard. His deficiencies are clear, and his lone redeeming quality — run blocking — isn't enough to overcome those.

If the Jets are going to struggle to get production from their non-Garrett Wilson receivers, they might as well lean into the intriguing youngsters they have on the roster.

Arian Smith's promising camp has brought hope that he can be more than just a one-trick pony, and Lazard shouldn't stand in the way of him getting an opportunity to prove that now in the regular season.

If it's size they're looking for, six-foot-five Quentin Skinner is lurking on the practice squad after a promising training camp. Alongside him is Brandon Smith, who was another summer star.

Arian Smith has real potential, and while Skinner and Brandon Smith are shots in the dark, it won't be hard for them to reach the floor Lazard set in a new offense that he doesn't already know like the back of his hand.

Once Josh Reynolds is back, he can fill the veteran mentor role due to his experience working with Tanner Engstrand during their time in Detroit. That should leave Lazard without any real role, and even at his reduced salary, it's hard to imagine the Jets finding an interested trade partner if they keep running him out there.

Whether it's cutting the veteran or simply burying him on the depth chart, we've reached the point where it's time to move on. The Jets needed Lazard to show signs of life against Buffalo, and he disappeared. Enough is enough; it's time to give someone else a shot.

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