Jets’ sudden receiver depth costing them a pretty penny

Wide receiver depth was a major area of concern for the Jets in 2020, so Joe Douglas spent lavishly in an attempt to remedy the issue.

Douglas signed Corey Davis to a three-year, $37.5 contract and added Keelan Cole on a one-year, $5.5 million deal. The Jets also drafted Elijah Moore in the second round, adding him to a group that also includes Jamison Crowder, Denzel Mims, Braxton Berrios and Vyncint Smith.

The Jets now have $34.89 million tied into the receiver position this year, per Over The Cap. That ranks sixth in the league behind the Dolphins, Buccaneers, Browns, Chargers and Cowboys. That includes Crowder’s expected pay cut but doesn’t include Moore’s estimated $1.625 million cap hit off his rookie deal, which remains unsigned.

That’s a stark difference from 2020 when New York spent $19.4 million of its cap space on the receiver position.

Mike LaFleur’s offense needs as many pass-catchers as possible, and Douglas made sure to give rookie quarterback Zach Wilson a plethora of options in his first season in the NFL. Moore is already gaining rave reviews from teammates and staff, while Davis appears to be a great fit in LaFleur’s offense and Crowder should assume his standard role in the slot.