The one move the NY Jets must make in the 2025 NFL Draft is obvious

The New York Jets have not fared well in the wide receiver market this offseason. They missed out on key targets like Josh Palmer, Darius Slayton, and Dyami Brown. Right now, they are facing the possibility of relying heavily on Allen Lazard — a position no one expected them to be in.

Aside from high-priced, aging veterans, the market is running thin. While rumors have swirled about the Jets potentially trading for Saints wide receiver Chris Olave, nothing is certain at this point.

Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave would form an impressive 1-2 punch, but the Jets still need to rebuild their depth. The good news? The 2025 NFL Draft is right around the corner — what better way to restock the receiver room?

The NY Jets need to add a wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft

Facing the possibility of Malachi Corley and Xavier Gipson seeing significant snaps, the Jets have no choice but to lean on the NFL Draft for reinforcements. It’s far from an ideal situation, but it’s the reality they’re dealing with.

According to most mock drafts, if the Jets target a wide receiver at No. 7 overall, they could be looking at Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan or even Heisman winner Travis Hunter from Colorado. However, Hunter is highly unlikely to still be available at that spot.

If the Jets look to draft a wide receiver at No. 42 overall, they’ll have plenty of options. Potential targets include Mississippi’s Tre Harris, Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, Oregon’s Tez Johnson, and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor, among several other promising young talents.

Many of those receivers will still be available at pick No. 73 or even No. 109. However, the most intriguing prospects are those likely to fall between No. 7 and No. 42, potentially out of reach. Those are the names to watch.

There are three receiver prospects who are expected to fall somewhere between the Jets' current first and second-round picks. They all have high-impact potential but would require moving up the draft board via a trade.

Matthew Golden out of Texas — the second-ranked receiver on ESPN's big board — is an incredibly well-rounded wide receiver. He's a great route runner who also excels after the catch and in jump-ball situations. Justin Fields would love to throw to a target like that.

There’s also Luther Burden III, a three-year starter from Missouri, who brings intriguing versatility. A potential slot weapon, he excels at creating separation downfield and could also contribute as a punt returner. His skill set could add significant value to the Jets' offense.

And then there is Emeka Egbuka, an Ohio State standout with good physicality and the ability to snag contested passes in the air. Egbuka is widely seen as one of the better route runners in this class.

Depending on the mock draft, there are plenty of possible scenarios. Most projections don’t have the Jets targeting a wide receiver early, but with five more picks after their first three, they’ll have plenty of chances to address the position.

Much remains uncertain in free agency and the trade market, but even if the Jets make a move or two, they’ll still need all the receiver depth they can get.

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