The 2022 offseason is underway, and soon enough it will be time for the NY Jets to make final decisions on what players to add for next season.
When it comes to the draft this time around, the Jets own two first-round picks. Whether they keep both of them is still up for debate, so too is what route they will go when picks 4 and 10 come up.
But what is undeniable at this moment is that Zach Wilson and the Jets offense need to add one big-time receiver this offseason at the very least to complement Elijah Moore and Corey Davis.
The Jets may very well go for a pass rusher, a cornerback, or an offensive lineman in the first round if they keep their picks while adding a veteran receiver through free agency/a trade, but let's go through three of the top talents in this year's class and see how each of them can help the young Wilson find his way.
1. Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
I want to start this off with Garrett Wilson of Ohio State. Wilson was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2021 for the Buckeyes with 12 touchdown grabs and just over 15 yards per catch.
The Ohio State standout is widely considered one of the top receivers in this class, and for good reason. Compared to the other two guys on this list I have for you today, Wilson creates the most separation by a country mile.
In part, that is because of the sheer size discrepancy between Wilson and the other two. In another part, it is due to how slick and fleet-of-foot Wilson is on his route-running.
What I have here is Wilson's highlight reel of his 2021 season. In it, you will see Wilson go virtually untouched on the vast majority of his routes, including (in my opinion) his slickest one at 4:11 where he jukes a Maryland corner at the goal line for a touchdown catch.
It is unreal routes like the Maryland one that instantly puts him at the top of the board for this year's class of wide receivers. He is a sleight-of-frame, terrific route-runner that can do a lot of damage to the egos of defensive backs.
Is this, however, THE guy that Zach Wilson needs in his arsenal? Wilson-to-Wilson? Maybe not after I go through what I like about these next two receivers.
Wilson needs either a big receiver, a hybrid receiver who can replicate the workload that Deebo Samuel does in San Francisco, or obviously both.