This is the third installment of our New York Jets position-by-position breakdown as we head to the April 30 draft:
Position: Wide receiver
Current personnel: Eric Decker (signed through 2018), Brandon Marshall (2017), Jeremy Kerley (2017), T.J. Graham (2015), Chris Owusu (2015), Saalim Hakim (2015), Shaq Evans (2017), Walt Powell (2017), Quincy Enunwa (2017)
Projected starters: Decker, Marshall
Departures: Percy Harvin (released/Buffalo Bills), Greg Salas (free agent)
Total salary-cap charge: $20.19 million (ranking: fifth)
Scouting report: Talk about a transformation. In 2013, the Jets went into the season with Stephen Hill and a diminished Santonio Holmes as their starters. They overhauled the entire receiving corps, with the exception of Kerley. The addition of Marshall gives them a legitimate No. 1 receiver, assuming his injury-plagued 2014 was an aberration. He's a possession receiver at this stage of his career, but he's a 6-foot-4 target who will help tremendously in the red zone -- the Achilles' heel of the 2014 offense. The Jets' wideouts had only four red-zone touchdowns (three by Decker) last season, tied for 27th in the league. Obviously, some of that was a function of Geno Smith's struggles.
Marshall's presence should create favorable matchups for the others, especially Decker, who could thrive in the No. 2 role. In theory, he will see more single coverage on the backside. The concern is the Jets don't have anyone who can blow the top off a defense -- a deep threat. Marshall, Decker and Kerley combined for only eight receptions of 40-plus yards. They need more production out of Kerley in the slot.
The last wide receiver drafted: The Jets selected three in 2014, arguably the greatest receiver draft in history -- and received no immediate dividends. Jalen Saunders (fourth round) was released after four games, Evans (fourth) spent the season on injured reserve and Enunwa (sixth) was on the practice squad.
Potential targets: There's a very good chance one of the top two receivers, Amari Cooper (Alabama) or Kevin White (West Virginia), will be on the board with the sixth pick. What, then? Wide receiver isn't a "need" position, but general manager Mike Maccagnan claims to live by the "best player available" credo. He'd have to give strong consideration to Cooper, the most polished receiver in the draft. White has a higher ceiling than Cooper, but he was a one-year wonder in college and didn't see much press coverage in West Virginia's spread offense.
White and Cooper took pre-draft visits, as did top-15 talents DeVante Parker (Louisville) and Breshad Perriman (Central Florida). You could make a case for a receiver at No. 6, based on the need for a game-breaker and the fact there's no guaranteed money tied up in the position beyond 2015, but Maccagnan already has made one major acquisition (Marshall) this offseason. There might be a receiver-needy team looking to move up if Cooper or White fall to No. 6.
Need rating (on a scale of 1 to 10): 5