Jets urged to make bold WR addition that fans shouldn’t expect

Garrett Wilson is a star. That much isn’t up for debate. But the rest of the New York Jets’ wide receiver room remains a mix of unproven and underwhelming talent entering the 2025 season.

Veterans Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard are battling for the WR2 job, while a group of young and largely unproven receivers, including the likes of Malachi Corley, Arian Smith, Xavier Gipson, and Tyler Johnson, are fighting for reps behind them.

That's why former Jets defensive lineman and current analyst Leger Douzable recently suggested the team should explore the veteran market before training camp. Keenan Allen and Gabe Davis were two names he mentioned.

It’s a fair idea on the surface, but while the Jets could certainly use more firepower, don’t expect them to make a splashy move like that. Not this year.

Everything about their offseason has signaled a shift toward a full-on youth movement, not the same win-now urgency they've shown in recent years. And even if Allen or Davis made sense on paper, it’s hard to see either side having much interest in a short-term rental at this stage.

Don't expect the Jets to sign Keenan Allen or Gabe Davis

There’s no denying the Jets could use more certainty at wide receiver. Wilson is coming off his third consecutive 1,000-yard campaign despite catching passes from eight different QBs, but behind him, the situation gets a bit murky.

Reynolds was signed this offseason as a potential WR2 and has reportedly impressed early. Lazard remains in the mix, but his future is uncertain, with persistent trade speculation connecting him to Pittsburgh now that Aaron Rodgers is in town.

The rest of the depth chart is a mix of fliers and developmental bets. Rookie fourth-round pick Arian Smith brings blazing speed, Malachi Corley is still finding his footing after a disastrous rookie year, and guys like Tyler Johnson and Xavier Gipson are fighting for roster spots.

There isn't much there in the way of unproven talent, which is why Douzable’s suggestion to add a proven veteran like Allen or Davis makes sense in theory. But the Jets’ 2025 approach makes a move like that feel highly unlikely.

This isn’t a team pushing all their chips in. The front office didn’t spend big in free agency, with only two multi-year deals handed out and just four players over 30 on the current 90-man roster. The Jets are clearly recalibrating.

They moved on from Rodgers, Davante Adams, and several other veterans this offseason and have prioritized flexibility, youth, and low-risk contracts. Even Justin Fields’ deal — two years, $40 million — is far from a long-term commitment.

Signing someone like Allen or Davis, both of whom likely expect real targets and a playoff-caliber environment, doesn’t fit the plan. Allen, now 33, is coming off his least productive season since 2016.

Davis, meanwhile, is reportedly drawing serious interest from teams like the Steelers, who actually expect to contend. It’s hard to imagine the Jets winning a bidding war — or even wanting to, in the first place.

More importantly, the Jets don’t seem interested in taking away reps from Corley, Smith, or Johnson just to slightly raise the offense’s floor. This year is about evaluating what they have, not propping up the offense with short-term fixes.

So while Douzable’s suggestion might look good on paper, it simply doesn’t align with where this team is or where they’re going. Don't count on the Jets making a flashy wide receiver addition at this stage of the offseason.

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