When the New York Jets released receiver Davante Adams, they made a not-so-subtle admission that the 2025 receiving corps would be worse than the wild ride that was the 2024 season.
That's not the end of the world. Signing quarterback Justin Fields all but guarantees the next offense will be run-heavy, limiting the need for a second star on the boundary. However, competence is necessary and finding players that meet both talent and cultural requirements for the new regime.
On Thursday, New York took a step toward rebuilding the unit.
According to Ian Rapoport, the Jets are signing familiar boundary receiver Josh Reynolds to a one-year deal.
The contract is worth up to $5 million, and while he largely profiles as a depth receiver, New York could very well ask him to start opposite star receiver Garrett Wilson.
Given his history, Reynolds finding a home in East Rutherford isn't much of a surprise. From 2021–2023, he practiced against former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator and current Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. In 2024, he saw time with the Denver Broncos, where New York general manager Darren Mougey played a major role in the front office.
So ... he has connections here.
Reynolds appeared in just nine games in 2024, splitting time with the Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars. He logged just 13 catches, 194 yards, and a score, a year removed from the second 600-yard campaign of his career.
Reynolds doesn't come with a standout skill. He's not a natural separator. His burst is impressive for his 6-3 frame, but he's not the fastest, or the strongest, or the most dangerous after the catch.
Related: Justin Fields vs. Aaron Rodgers Only The Start of Jets 'Test'
Yet, he's fairly consistent, can impact multiple levels of the field, and clearly passes the Jets' newfound bar for physicality and competitive toughness.
It's too early to tell if he is locked into the starting lineup. Free agency isn't over just yet and a receiver could certainly be added at some point in the 2025 NFL Draft. But he sprinkles in additional competency to an unsteady receiving corps and ensures the likes of Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley don't have to see overexposed playing time on the perimeter.
That, in itself, is a win for New York.
Related: Jets Reveal Justin Fields 'Commitment' In Scout's Head-Turning Mock
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This story was originally published March 27, 2025 at 11:52 AM.