Updates from the Jets’ Receiver Room during Phase 3 OTAs

Answering key questions regarding Gang Green's revamped WR corps

© Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com

Receivers Randall Cobb, Corey Davis, Denzel Mims and DeAndre Hopkins were all the subjects of questions during New York Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh’s pre-practice press briefing on Wednesday.

Starting with the lone non-Jet pass-catcher of the aforementioned group, Hopkins, who is on the free agent market after the Arizona Cardinals released the former All-Pro on Tuesday, likely won’t be landing with Gang Green.

“No, we love our current group,” said Saleh when asked about a possible pursuit of Hopkins. “I know there was some stuff with Odell [Beckham], but other than that, we love our group.”

Cobb is the newest member of the group that Saleh claims team brass loves. The former Green Bay Packer, who is a long-time friend of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, signed a free-agent deal with the Green & White on May 3.

Set to turn 33 years old during the NFL Preseason, Cobb played 10 of his 12 professional seasons with Rodgers. He only surpassed the 450-yard receiving mark once in the last five years, but early signs point to the veteran becoming a lock for the 53-man roster.

“I think that I can fill some voids. I'm very excited for the opportunity. I know this isn’t the prime of my career, but I do think I still got a lot left in the tank,” said Cobb. “If you watch my film and you see what I’ve done over the past couple years I’m pretty efficient in the time that I’m in [the game].”

In addition to his familiarity with Rodgers, Cobb possesses playing experience in offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s scheme.

“Remember Hackett was with Randall too, so he’s a guy who’s got a lot of experience in the system,” said Saleh. “He’s a guy that they’re [Hackett and Rodgers] very comfortable and familiar with.”

Cobb's knowledge already appears to be paying dividends amongst the receiving corps.

"I know he’s going through some rehab and all that stuff, but he’s in the receiver room," said Saleh. "I’m in there listening in on the receiver meetings and he’s got a voice and he’s doing everything he can to help those guys."

Saleh labeled Cobb, who has made 625 catches over 155 career regular season appearances, as a “flag bearer.”

“Like the guys who are going to plant the flag and be able to echo the messaging, they already know what it is,” said Gang Green’s third-year head coach. “To have those guys are priceless.”

It seems unlikely that a hand-picked “priceless” veteran presence would fail to make the 53-man cut come late August.

"To bring in a guy who can still play the game at a high level, who knows the system inside out, who stands for everything you want, it’s really a no-brainer at that point," said Saleh.

WR Randall Cobb (18) and QB Aaron Rodgers (12) leave the field after the 2022 regular season finale :: Dan Powers/Appleton Post-Crescent

When asked about Mims’s status, Saleh provided a somewhat ominous response.

“He’s competing. He’s competing his butt off,” said Saleh. “He won’t be here today, but he’s got a chance to compete and make this roster and do something special with it.”

That word choice could suggest that the former second-round draft pick is no guarantee to make the team.

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READ Jets' 2023 Unofficial Offseason Depth Chart

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The 6-foot-3 Mims has appeared in only 30 of 50 possible games over the past three years after the Jets made him the No. 59 overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. In 10 appearances last fall, Mims caught 11 of 25 targets for 186 total receiving yards.

Six targets. Six catches. One TD.

Denzel Mims comes down with the score 🙌pic.twitter.com/gqO7bnMOh7

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 28, 2022

Davis’s name has come up as a potential salary cap casualty on multiple occasions, but the big-bodied receiver may finally have some roster security.

With the Jets apparently not pursuing Hopkins, there is no immediate need for 2023 cap space and Saleh has repeatedly inferred that Davis is in the team’s plans for the upcoming campaign.

“I believe they’re having another child, so I don’t think you guys will see him here, but he’s been great. Corey is the epitome of a teammate,” said Saleh.

Davis, who enters the third season of a lucrative three-year contract, averaged 16.8 yards per reception over 13 games (10 starts) in 2022. He has caught only 66 of his 123 targets in two years as a Jet.

“And as far as [Davis’s] contract is concerned, I’ll leave that for [GM] Joe [Douglas], but he’s definitely an asset to this football team,” said Saleh. 

.@ZachWilson said "go deep @TheCDavis84, I'll find ya"#TENvsNYJ on CBS pic.twitter.com/JEqYZT8xtU

— New York Jets (@nyjets) October 3, 2021

From Jets Country's Unofficial Depth Chart:

RECEIVERS — 13

Starters: Garrett Wilson (17), Allen Lazard (10), Mecole Hardman (6)

Second Team: Corey Davis (84), Randall Cobb (18), Denzel Mims (11)

Third Team: Irvin Charles (82), Diontae Spencer (14), Xavier Gipson (19)

Fourth Team: Malik Taylor (86), TJ Luther (85), Jason Brownlee (16), Jerome Kapp (31)

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