NY Jets: Corey Davis ranked as a top-20 WR in the NFL by PFF
By Justin Fried
The NY Jets did an excellent job of revamping a wide receiver corps that ranked as one of the worst units in the NFL a year ago. And a significant part of that revamp was the addition of Corey Davis.
Davis was one of two big free-agent signings the Jets made this offseason, along with pass rusher Carl Lawson, as the former Tennessee Titans wideout signed a three-year, $37.5 million to come to New York.
Following a career year in 2020, the Jets are expecting big things from Davis this season. And the Jets aren't the only ones with high hopes for the former fifth overall pick.
Pro Football Focus recently ranked the top-32 wide receivers in football ahead of the 2021 season, and Davis ranked all the way at No. 20 overall.
The NY Jets are hoping to see the best of Corey Davis in 2021
The fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Davis endured a slow start to his career, partially plagued by injuries. But he broke out in 2018 hauling in 65 catches for 891 yards and four touchdowns.
Davis took a step back in 2019 before returning with his best season yet in 2020. The former Western Michigan star finished with career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns, and he did so despite missing two games.
Davis finished just shy of 1,000 yards while playing second-fiddle to A.J. Brown in the run-heavy Titans' offense. Evidently, he likely hasn't reached his ceiling yet. And PFF seems to agree.
"Enter, Corey Davis — a former first-round pick coming off a career season with the Titans in which he finished eighth at the position in receiving grade (87.2) and fifth in yards per route run (2.58). In the two years before that, just 63% of his targets were deemed catchable, according to PFF's ball-charting process, which ranked 97th among 104 qualifying wide receivers. Despite that, Davis still managed to turn 26.7% of his total targets into a gain of 15-plus yards (ninth) in those two years."
- Anthony Treash, PFF
Davis will be tasked with playing the role of a true No. 1 wide receiver for the first time in his career with the Jets. Fortunately, the wide receiver group around him is significantly improved from where it was a year ago.
Joining Davis will be the returning Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder as well as offseason additions Keelan Cole and Elijah Moore. The Jets are deep at wide receiver, but Davis has the best chance to shine out of anyone in that group.
At 6-foot-3, Davis is a physical, jump-ball threat and someone who meshes well with new quarterback Zach Wilson's style of play.
If Corey Davis could establish himself as a true top-20 wide receiver in 2021 as PFF believes he will, the Jets offense could take a massive step forward this season.