5 free agent and NY Jets candidates to replace Corey Davis

Wow. Big and very surprising news shook the Jets offense on Wednesday afternoon as wide receiver Corey Davis announced his retirement from the NFL effective immediately.

Davis, only 28 years old and due $10.5 million this season, was a starter on the offense the previous two seasons and was projected to be a big contributor to the offense. Many believed that Davis was the second-best receiver on the team and poised for a breakout season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Although he had missed time the last two seasons with injuries and was wildly overpaid for his production, Davis was a big and physical wide receiver with a knack for catching passed on third down and was an above-average blocker for his position.

The Jets are now in need of another option at receiver, with only Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb with any NFL experience. Even Cobb, at this point of his career, is really in the building to be a mentor and friend to Rodgers, not be an everyday player.

Although it is true that there are some very intriguing trade candidates for the Jets to target, I think a more realistic option for New York is to target a free agent option or possibly use this as an opportunity to allow one of their rookies or undrafted free agents get a bigger role during the last two weeks of the offseason.

Below are five options for the Jets to target in free agency or in their own building to replace Corey Davis after his retirement.

1. The NY Jets can sign Kenny Golladay

Kenny Golladay is yet to be signed since being released on March 15 by the New York Giants. Many Jets fans will remember him from this time when he was lackluster, to say the least. In two seasons with the Giants, Golladay posted just 43 catches for 602 yards and one singular touchdown.

However, Golladay was once a prized commodity in free agency not that long ago, and many Jets fans were upset when the team failed to land him.

Before an injury-riddled 2020 season, Golladay was a bonafide star for the Detroit Lions, where he managed to make a Pro Bowl in 2019 after 65 catches, 1,190 yards, and an 11-touchdown season for Detroit.

Golladay actually posted back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019 for Detroit before his embarrassing performance for the Giants. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Golladay is a big target and could provide the size and athleticism the Jets relied on Davis for. If Golladay could get back to his Pro Bowl form, the Jets could come away with quite the steal.

2. The NY Jets can sign Julio Jones

Another former Pro Bowler, Julio Jones is in quite a different place in his career compared to Golladay. At age 34, Jones has maybe one season left, and some think he may even retire outright like Davis.

But once again, Jones checks the boxes for what the Jets would be looking for. At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Jones is a monster of a human and one of the best receivers of the modern era. Since leaving Atlanta in 2021, Jones has fallen off a cliff, though, posting just 55 catches for 733 yards and three touchdowns across two seasons with Tennessee and Tampa Bay.

However, if Jones can regain any of his form, perhaps boosted by some time off this summer, he could prove to be a weapon for Rodgers and the Jets offense in one final campaign.

In 2020, Jones managed to haul in 51 catches for 771 yards and three scores. If he could do something like that this year, it would be similar to the production Davis would have provided.

3. The NY Jets can sign Sammy Watkins

The final free agent on this list, Watkins fits the mold for what the Jets are after in a veteran wide receiver. Still just 30 years old, only two years older than Davis, and standing 6-foot-1 and 211 pounds, Watkins is another big, physical receiver with proven success in the league.

Watkins bounced around the league last year, appearing in nine games for Green Bay and three games for Baltimore, and only caught 16 passes for 325 yards.

However, it was only in 2020 that Watkins played a meaningful role for the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes. In that season, Watkins caught 37 passes for 421 yards and three scores.

It is not crazy to think that Watkins, playing with another MVP and Super Bowl champion quarterback in Rodgers, could at least get to 35 or 40 catches for 400 yards and a few scores.

Being that Watkins would be the third or fourth option for the Jets at receiver, that would be enough to justify the low cost. Additionally, the team would add a proven veteran with tons of playoff experience.

4. The NY Jets can turn to Jason Brownlee

Shifting away focus from free-agent targets, the Jets also have some in-house candidates to replace Davis. The first is Jason Brownlee, who has emerged as a candidate to make the roster even before Davis left the team.

At 6'3" and 200 pounds, Brownlee lacks the physicality that Davis or the free-agent targets would bring but would add tons of athleticism and speed to the receiver group. In fact, Brownlee is coming off his best preseason game so far, posting four catches for 50 yards on six targets playing with Zach Wilson and the second offense.

So far this preseason, Brownlee has managed to grab eight passes for 77 yards in limited work. In his final season at Southern Miss, Brownlee caught 55 passes for almost 900 yards and eight scores. He can clearly handle a heavy workload.

The Jets don't need Brownlee to replicate the effectiveness of Davis right off the bat as Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, the other tight ends, and running backs can cover the load for most of the way.

However, if Brownlee can become a reliable pass catcher on the outside and use his big frame to his advantage, the Jets can certainly have their replacement for Davis already on the roster.

5. The NY Jets can turn to Malik Taylor

Another player already on the Jets, Malik Taylor is currently banged up and failed to play in their last preseason game. However, Taylor does have some experience in the league and has chemistry with Rodgers.

Taylor spent the last two seasons in Green Bay with Rodgers but only saw nine targets across 25 games. He caught seven passes for 80 yards and one touchdown but gained invaluable experience playing alongside Rodgers every day. You have to think that Rodgers would already feel comfortable throwing to Taylor given their reps in practice the previous two seasons.

Taylor flashed his ability in the Hall of Fame Game earlier this summer when he brought in a gorgeous Zach Wilson deep ball down the sideline for 54 yards.

Of course, this was against a backup cornerback, but if Taylor could find a way to stretch the defense on the outside regularly, he would provide a big help to the offense.

At 6-foot-1, he does not possess the same size as a Julio Jones or Sammy Watkins, but at 220 pounds, he is most certainly physical enough to fill the void left behind by Davis. When healthy, Taylor could certainly be the Jets' replacement for the now-retired wideout.