On paper, the New York Jets have one of the best wide receiver depth charts in the NFL.
The Jets entered the season with Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard as the top wideouts catching passes from star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But the group got even better on Oct. 15 when New York acquired stud receiver Davante Adams in a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders.
What’s the current state of the Jets’ WR depth chart?
New York Jets WR Depth Chart
Davante Adams
We can debate whether Adams or Wilson is the true No. 1 receiver in New York’s offense, but there’s no denying who’s more accomplished and whom Rodgers trusts more.
During their eight seasons as teammates with the Green Bay Packers, Adams and Rodgers connected for 622 catches, 7,590 yards, and 69 touchdowns. They were one of the most formidable QB-WR duos in the league.
However, both players are now on the backnines of their respective careers.
Rodgers, 40, is still deadly accurate but isn’t as mobile as he was in his prime. And Adams, 31, remains a top-notch wideout when healthy but has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, including a hamstring issue this season.
Adams posted 18 catches for 209 yards and a TD in three games with the Raiders this season before being dealt to New York.
Garrett Wilson
One of the top young wideouts in football, Wilson topped 80 catches and 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
He’s also been a target hog since entering the league, a trend that continued this season. Wilson saw a whopping 23 targets in Week 5, a clear sign that Rodgers believes in him.
Who stops the Jets' new offense? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/tWXt1FTbT9
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 15, 2024
Wilson is an explosive talent with a diverse route tree. And while he might not be quite on the level of someone like Justin Jefferson, Wilson would be the No. 1 receiver on many NFL teams.
Allen Lazard
Another trusted Rodgers target, Lazard has been teammates with the future Hall of Fame quarterback since entering the NFL in 2018.
Lazard caught passes from Rodgers while with the Packers from 2018 through 2022, a stretch that saw him total 169 receptions for 2,236 yards and 20 touchdowns. He followed Rodgers to New York in 2023, only to watch his quarterback suffer a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1.
AARON RODGERS HAIL MARY TO ALLEN LAZARD TO END THE HALF!
Rodgers. AGAIN!! The Hail Mary king! pic.twitter.com/WmHnNITXeZ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 15, 2024
With Adams now in the receiver room, Lazard’s target share likely will take a hit throughout the rest of the season. But he should get easier matchups with opposing defenses devoting top resources toward slowing Wilson and Adams.
Mike Williams
Mike Williams is the clear No. 4 option in the Jets’ passing game, although you could argue he’s No. 5 behind tight end Tyler Conklin.
Regardless, Williams, who suffered a torn ACL last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, isn’t expected to post huge numbers with the Jets. And at 30 years old, his time as a reliable deep threat might be over.
Williams posted two 1,000-yard seasons during his seven-year run with the Chargers. He never has caught more than 76 balls in a single campaign.
Xavier Gipson
Xavier Gipson joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has carved out a role as a high-end kick returner and solid depth receiver. Gipson was active in all 17 games as a rookie, finishing with 21 catches for 229 yards.
He saw just six targets before the Adams trade, however, and now sits even further down the Jets’ WR depth chart.
Malachi Corley
A third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Malachi Corley joined the Jets with hopes of becoming a big-play option for Rodgers. But the Western Kentucky product was a healthy scratch in each of the first three weeks before seeing two total offensive snaps the following three weeks.
Corley has the talent to become a solid receiver for New York, but all signs point toward him essentially redshirting his rookie campaign.