NY Jets 2009 Position Profile: Wide Receiver

The New York Jets receiving corps is bereft of a pure No. 1 target for whichever inexperienced gunslinger will be suiting up under center next season, which is potentially problematic. 

Laveranues Coles, the face of the Jets' wideouts, negotiated his way out of town and cashed in with Cincinatti, while Mike Tannenbaum maneuvered his way to salary cap safety to bolster the defensive unit. 

The Jets have a youthful pool of receivers on the roster, including Jerricho Cotchery, David Clowney, Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith, and Marcus Henry. Cotchery, after the departure of Coles, has been promoted to the top slot on the depth chart.

Stuckey, a seventh round pick entering his third season, was featured behind Coles and Cotchery last season and provided some spark early on, but his production faded over time.

He is poised to make a significant contribution this upcoming year, and while he isn't quite a speedster, despite his size he has solid hands and is a stellar receiver overall. 

Clowney burst onto the scene with a showcase in the preseason opener against Cleveland last season, but of course it was overshadowed by the acquisition of Brett Favre and all the hype that came with it. Clowney tallied four receptions for a whopping 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and his display of sheer speed excited many.

Unfortunately, Clowney sustained an injury that sidelined him for the majority of the season, although he did make a spectacular grab against Buffalo for a good chunk of yardage, his sole catch of the season. Clowney, a fifth round pick from Virginia Tech let loose by Green Bay, has tons of potential. 

Clowney and Stuckey will vy for the starting spot opposite Cotchery. Stuckey, with more experience under his belt, seems like the favorite and I fully expect him to haul in more passes than Clowney, but Clowney will pile up the yardage as the home run, vertical threat. His ability to stretch the field will be crucial for the Jets.

Brad Smith has been a disappointment, drafted as a quarterback with the athleticism of a receiver, and as a project has failed to produce. Smith, though, thrives in packages with multiple receivers and can chip in on special teams. 

Perhaps Brian Schottenheimer can concoct his own rendition of the increasingly popular "Wildcat" formation which applies Smith, and harnesses his skill set to translate that into an innovative way of moving the ball.

Schottenheimer, who doesn't have all that much to work with, has a versatile toy to tinker with in Smith, who could be pivotal when Schottenheimer tries to get more creative. After all, without much to work with, Schottenheimer could be having to pull several tricks out of the bag. 

There are a slew of guys the Jets could look to lassoo in to address their needs at wide receiver, namely Braylon Edwards and Anquan Boldin. Edwards was criticized, and deservedly so, for several dropped passes last season, although he was phenomenal a couple of years ago when in top form and has plenty of upside.

Boldin, in his prime, is known for his toughness and ability to get yards after the catch, like Cotchery, which is a plus, especially if Mark Sanchez were to start. The Jets wouldn't have to take as many chances downfield when they resort to pass. 

Both, though, would command meaty compensation. Edwards would seem easier to acquire because of the Eric Mangini factor and how he's looking to reel in his former pupils and establish a Jets settlement in Cleveland. The Jets could entice the Cardinals with a high draft pick and possibly a player.

Regardless, though, picks are at a premium, with the Jets likely to cough up a middle round selection due to the Lito Sheppard trade (providing Sheppard does well and hence plays) and Boldin and Edwards would be looking for big contracts. 

Plaxico Burress, tangled up in a legal issue which we all know about by now, is scheduled for a court date shortly after mandatory minicamp, and by then the Jets should be convinced a No. 1 target like Burress, for whom they wouldn't have to cough up anything but green (which they're willing to dole out) for his services, would be worth it.

Whipping up an incentive-laden deal that would imply something along the lines of any wrongdoings and brushes with the law and you're gone, would be a low risk, high reward sort of thing.

The Jets are that close to being legitimate contenders and that desperate to fill the hole, and I'm all for Burress if he can clear his name, because it's evident he remains popular amongst players, and would be welcomed in Florham Park.

Summing it all up—the Jets have a fresh batch of wide-outs who will only get better and are on the brink of big things, which they can accomplish with a proven, playmaking receiver.