New York Jets: Does Woody Johnson want to draft a WR?

The New York Jets are one of the harder to teams to predict what they will do in the first-round of the NFL Draft.

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For the Jets, there has been speculation about drafting Marcus Mariota, Brandon Scherff, and one of the possible edge-rushers. With a few needs on the team, the Jets are certainly a wild card in the Top-10 with the sixth pick.

At a recent charity event, Jets’ owner would Johnson had some reaffirming words that Geno Smith could be the Jets’ guy in 2015.

“He’s going to mature,” Johnson said, according to multiple reports from ESPN. “He’s not going to be making rookie mistakes anymore and he’s not going to be making sophomore mistakes anymore, hopefully. If he can carry over the way he finished last year, when he played against the Dolphins [in the final game], he played OK. So if he can keep that going, we’re good. We’re going to get him more targets.”

The last line of the quote is the one that will raise eyebrows. Getting him more targets would indicate that the Jets will be drafting a wide receiver.

In the top part of the NFL Draft, there are two wide receivers that would be great additions if the Jets go in that direction.

One of the two options is Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper. The Alabama standout is a bit more of the proven prospect after three very good seasons in college. In three seasons, Cooper totaled 228 receptions, 3,463 receiving yards, and 31 receiving touchdowns. His final season at Alabama was by far his best, as he finished third in the Heisman voting.

In 2014, Cooper totaled 124 receptions, 1,727 receiving yards, and 16 receiving touchdowns.

The next top wide receiver option in the NFL Draft for the Jets is Kevin White from West Virginia. White didn’t total the great stats the Cooper did in college, but last season was a very good one for White.

In 2014, White totaled 109 receptions, 1,447 receiving yards, and 10 receiving touchdowns. In two seasons at West Virginia, White totaled 144 receptions, 1,954 receiving yards, and 15 receiving touchdowns. While White’s stats are good, the advantage does go to Cooper.

What is appealing about White is his upside, At the NFL Combine, White impressed scouts by running a 4.35 40-yard dash. White is 6’3”, 215lbs, and with that speed is all a team could want physically from a wide receiver.

More than likely the Jets will not being getting a franchise quarterback before the start of the 2015 season. It would be a smart move by the Jets to not reach for either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota if they aren’t sold on them. The price to move up even for the Jets would be steep, and if they miss it could be a disaster for the future.

While neither Smith nor Ryan Fitzpatrick are great quarterbacks, if they have great weapons around them, they can succeed. A wide receiver corps of Eric Decker, Brandon Marshall, and either Cooper or White would be outstanding. A wide receiving corps like that can make even bad quarterbacks look good.

Johnson could be throwing a smokescreen, but he also may have shown the Jets’ hand in the NFL Draft with his comments.

Next: Who will the Jets select with the sixth pick in our Mock Draft?

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New York Jets: Does Woody Johnson want to draft a wide receiver?

By Nick Ziegler | Apr 29, 2015

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