The New York Jets are once again working to rebuild their roster and claw their way out of the hole they have found themselves in for years. They desperately need to find a franchise quarterback but have been forced to settle with a string of veterans, the latest of which is Geno Smith.
A recent draft rumor suggests that New York will look to bolster its struggling offense and add a weapon to line up along with Garrett Wilson.
How the Jets Can Boost Their Offense with a Partner for Garrett Wilson
According to PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, the Jets ranked 29th in the league with a score of 58.7. Part of their issue was the revolving quarterback door that saw Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and Brady Cook start. However, the lack of weapons outside Wilson made it impossible for any of the signal-callers to find a rhythm.
The Jets have a whopping nine picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. In a recent ESPN article, Jordan Reid was asked what he has been hearing about the Jets’ upcoming draft philosophy.
Reid said, “With three picks inside the top 33, the Jets will take a true best-player-available approach, but don’t be surprised if they end Round 1 with three picks … using none of them on a QB. The Jets are expected to be aggressive in boosting their wide receiver room, and Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana) is one player they are reported to be extremely high on. They view him as an ideal complementary WR2 to Garrett Wilson.”
Cooper spent four years at Indiana. He was redshirted as a freshman and played a limited role in 2023. However, in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Cooper took a significant step forward.
In the four seasons in which he played, Cooper saw the field in 42 games. He made 115 receptions for 1,798 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The Jets will prize his versatility. Despite playing as a full-time slot receiver in 2025, he has also played well outside. He has solid acceleration but needs to continue to work on his route running.
Not only is Cooper versatile, but he is also tough. At 6 feet even and 204 pounds, he’s a big-bodied receiver who isn’t easy to bring down. His ability to gain yards after contact could help him earn more targets.
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As the Jets look to finally break free from years of offensive stagnation, surrounding Smith with capable playmakers is paramount. Drafting a tough, versatile prospect like Cooper wouldn’t just take the heavy coverage off Wilson; it would inject much-needed physicality and after-the-catch potential into an offense that desperately needs a spark.
With a war chest of draft capital at its disposal, New York has a prime opportunity to reshape its identity. If the front office can successfully execute an aggressive, best-player-available strategy, landing a dynamic WR2 might just be the catalyst this long-struggling franchise needs to finally get back on track.
