NY Jets news: Jets targeting a star WR, coaching rumors, Mecole Hardman struggles

The Jets want a star wide receiver
Jets could lose a top defensive coach
Mecole Hardman did not have a good day

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Mike Evans / Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports

The NY Jets are reportedly prepared to go big-game hunting in the wide receiver market this offseason. ESPN's Rich Cimini reported on Sunday that the Jets "are hoping to make a significant addition at receiver through trade, free agency or the draft."

The Jets will be looking to reshape a wide receiver room that struggled mightily in 2023. Outside of Garrett Wilson, there likely isn't a single starting-caliber wide receiver on the Jets' roster.

Players such as Davante Adams, Tee Higgins, and Mike Evans have been frequently connected to the Jets in rumors, although it's unclear if any of them are realistic targets. If not, it seems as though the Jets are content making a high-profile wide receiver addition in the draft.

The Jets plan to prioritize adding a high-end wide receiver this offseason. Here's to hoping the position is handled much better than it was a year ago.

Other NY Jets news

Jets could lose top defensive coach

The Jets could be on the verge of losing one of their top defensive assistant coaches, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. Cimini is reporting that defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton will be a free agent at the end of the month, and the two sides have yet to work out an extension.

The Jets reportedly want to keep Whitecotton, who has been the team's offensive line coach since 2021, around for the foreseeable future, but he seems to be weighing his options.

Whitecotton has overseen the development of players like Bryce Huff, Quinnen Williams, John Franklin-Myers, and Jermaine Johnson, helping form one of the league's best defensive lines.

Cimini also noted that Whitecotton is close with Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel, who interviewed for the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator position last week. The Jets could lose two of their most respected defensive coaches this offseason.

Former Jets WR Mecole Hardman struggles

Sunday night was not particularly kind to former Jets wide receiver Mecole Hardman. Hardman and the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, and while his team came away with the win, it wasn't an ideal game for the speedy wideout.

Hardman tallied two total touches in the game, and he fumbled on each of them. He finished the game with one catch for two yards and one carry for -1 yard to go along with two separate fumbles.

The first Hardman fumble was fortunately recovered by the Chiefs, but he wasn't so lucky the second time around. Facing a 1st-and-goal situation from the Buffalo three-yard line, Hardman fumbled short of the goal line, and the ball bounced at the back of the end zone for a turnover and a touchback.

If not for a missed Tyler Bass field goal late in the fourth quarter, Hardman might've been remembered as the player who cost the Chiefs a playoff game. Something tells me the Jets don't regret that midseason trade — although they probably regret the signing.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.