NFL Rumors: Rex Ryan Could Push to Bring Braylon Edwards Back to Jets

The New York Jets need help at receiver and could turn to former wideout Braylon Edwards to fill out their roster. 

Head coach Rex Ryan surprisingly sung Edwards's praises earlier in the offseason, claiming the receiver had two great seasons with the team and that he "was a tremendous blocker." Edwards is still a free agent after an extremely disappointing season with the San Francisco 49ers, during which he had just 15 receptions. 

During two seasons with the Jets, Edwards had 88 catches for 1,445 yards and 11 touchdowns. His time was considered by most to be a disappointment because he was so inconsistent.

The Jets need to pick up a deep threat and they have remained interested in Edwards. The team's receiving corps is pretty thin at this point with Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, Patrick Turner and Chaz Schilens as the only guys with actual experience. But none of those guys really fit the definition of a deep threat, which the squad clearly needs. 

Edwards is a talented guy, there is no doubt about that, but at some point a guy is who he is, and the Michigan product has always been inconsistent. It might be time to stop waiting for him to turn things around.

That said, Edwards is only 29 years old, he can still get deep and at 6'3" and 215 pounds, he has elite size for the position. He could step in and replace Plaxico Burress, who appears to be headed elsewhere this offseason. 

While Ryan believes the Jets can find a receiver through the draft, he hasn't ruled out bringing in Edwards, and this might be a situation where it makes perfect sense. New York owns the No. 16 overall pick in the draft, but most experts expect it to go with an outside linebacker or a safety at that point. 

Anyone the Jets pick up later in the draft won't be a top-tier wideout, and Edwards might be a cheap option who could fill in for at year or so.

This is something to keep an eye on.