4 WRs the NY Jets could target after missing out on Odell Beckham Jr.

After news broke that Odell Beckham Jr. was signing with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, it was evident that the NY Jets were not going to ever match the whopping one-year, $15 million guaranteed deal Baltimore decided to hand him.

This signing means a continuation of the Jets' search for a wide receiver to round out the unit, forcing them now to pivot to other options.

4. The NY Jets could draft Jaxon Smith-Njigba

After missing out on Beckham, addressing the wide receiver position in the draft has become a far more likely future than it was before. While the consensus pick for the Jets at 13 has been offensive tackle, a scenario in which they take the Ohio State standout is not out of the question, especially if there is a run on tackle in the opening 12 picks of this year's draft.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba would round out the wide receiver corps beautifully with his role, somewhat replacing Elijah Moore as a player who thrives primarily in the slot but could potentially be used more on the outside as his career progresses.

Smith-Njigba, at 6-foot, 196 pounds, possesses a build highly similar to former Ohio State teammate Garrett Wilson. Despite Joe Douglas tending to go for faster receivers than 4.52 Smith-Njigba, he remains a player with an incredibly well-rounded skillset and has been hailed as the WR1 of this draft class by many in the media.

In his three years at Ohio State, Smith-Njigba showcased excellent YAC ability and showed some flashes of outside receiver potential when it came to contested catches.

2021 was a standout year for him where he amassed 1,606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns before a hamstring injury in 2022 left him limited to just three games for the Buckeyes.

Not only is his health a very legitimate concern, but the offensive line should probably be prioritized more in this draft, and, in particular, at pick 13. Smith-Njigba should not be the Plan A now that Beckham is out of the question, but there is a chance that we see him in a Jets jersey come next season.

3. The NY Jets could trade for Jerry Jeudy

In this scenario, Joe Douglas looks to the trade market for wide receiver help. Jerry Jeudy will be only 24 come September, and the former first-round pick would be an excellent addition.

The former Alabama standout has been a solid weapon alongside Courtland Sutton in Denver in his first three years in the league. Although 2021 was a disappointing season for Jeudy due to injury, he bounced back with 972 yards in 14 games for the Broncos in 2022.

He is evidently a talented receiver but is yet to truly kick on in the NFL to reach his draft potential as a bonafide WR1. Jeudy's catch rate of merely 67% is slightly worrying, but he would still very much add to this offense.

The only problem with his potential acquisition is both his availability and asking price, as, although the Broncos need draft capital, Sean Payton has claimed that Jeudy will not be moved this offseason.

2. The NY Jets could trade for Chris Godwin

A player who has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in four of the last five seasons, Chris Godwin would be a huge addition to this offense. A former third-round pick, Godwin is a former Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro.

He is a consistent and reliably good player who would make this receiver corps incredibly dangerous. Godwin surpassed 100 receptions in 2022, and although a seasoned veteran, he has only just turned 27. Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has used plenty of motion in his offense over the years, and Godwin excels in this area.

Between 2019 and 2021, no player scored more touchdowns when in a shift/motion than Godwin. Godwin also recorded 769 receiving yards when in shift/motion in this same time frame.

A versatile player, Godwin would add Super Bowl-winning experience to make this receiver unit a force to be reckoned with.

Godwin becoming a Jet does sadly seem to be an unlikely dream as there has been fairly little trade talk surrounding him recently, and similar to Jeudy, his asking price may be more than the Jets are willing to pay.

1. The NY Jets could trade for DeAndre Hopkins

No. 1 on this list for a reason, DeAndre Hopkins should be the guy now that Beckham has signed with the Ravens.

His accolades speak for themselves. A five-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro, Hopkins has totaled over 11,000 yards and 71 touchdowns in his career. Between 2014 and 2020, he recorded 1,000-yard seasons six out of seven times, and in 2017, he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns.

Within that time frame, he was considered one of the best players in the entire league, and although the last two years for him in Arizona have not been plain sailing, Hopkins becoming a Jet would be massive.

His 2021 and 2022 have been heavily altered by injury and suspension, but despite playing in just nine games last year, Hopkins recorded 717 receiving yards. His production when he steps on the field is still special, despite him being north of 30.

With the draft capital the Jets would need to give up for a trade seemingly low, this deal is a very real possibility, with the Jets reportedly interested.

The only concerns with Hopkins would be his cap hit, age, and health, but these are worries that can be easily overlooked due to Hopkins' talent and superstar production.

If Joe Douglas is truly serious about an all-in plan to win in 2023, a Hopkins trade should be the next place to go.