The New York Jets may finally have a starting quarterback in Justin Fields and a new culture installed by Aaron Glenn, but there are still some roster questions hanging around this franchise that will take months to sort out. None are more important than sorting out Fields' top targets.
ESPN's Rich Cimini cited the competition for the WR2 role behind clear-cut top target Garrett Wilson as a storyline fans need to keep an eye on during OTAs. The Jets will be a run-heavy team, but no team can create a high-end passing game by just throwing the ball to one receiver over and over again.
Veterans Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds are the two favorites to win the WR2 job, but fans shouldn't necessarily be surprised if neither of them ends up winning this job, given how paltry the depth chart is looking right now.
Jets fans must watch race for No. 2 wide receiver this offseason
Lazard has the physical traits needed to establish himself as a solid complementary piece in this offense, but the loss of Aaron Rodgers could depreciate his value. The Pittsburgh Steelers may even try to reunite Rodgers and Lazard via trade, and the Jets could be willing to hear them out.
Reynolds is eyeing a bounce-back year under Glenn, but he is coming off the worst season of his career (albeit after a shooting that marred his 2024 season). Reynolds is one of the few players on this team over 30 years old, which could make giving him extra playing time much less appealing.
Tyler Johnson's 26-catch season could put him in the WR4 driver's seat, but his professional ceiling to this point is 26 receptions in a Sean McVay/Matthew Stafford offense. It stands to reason that he shouldn't expect to be in for a great workload with Fields at the sticks in New York.
The Jets have two youngsters in second-year dud Malachi Corley and fourth-round rookie Arian Smith, but both bring with them some major issues. Smith has some drop issues that need to be ironed out before he gets any playing time, and Corley needs to show he can even play in this league. Neither of them should be viewed as short-term WR2 candidates.
The Jets' passing game is going to rely on Wilson getting at least 10 targets every game and rookie tight end Mason Taylor coming into his own as a pass-catcher.
The wide receiver room was one area that Glenn and Darren Mougey couldn't completely overhaul in one offseason, which could lead to some lean results in 2025.
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