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The New York Jets had major expectations entering last season after their acquisition of Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. That lasted all but four snaps after Rodgers tore his Achilles. Gang Green hopes to avoid that fate this year after all the moves they've made in the offseason.
Their defense is still fierce and their offensive line has improved drastically on paper. But the Jets could use some more reinforcements at wide receiver. Treylon Burks or David Bell look like solid trade targets for New York to round out their 2024 roster.
Jets trade for Treylon Burks
It isn't as if the Jets have ignored the wide receiver spot this offseason. They did sign former Los Angeles Charger Mike Williams to a one-year $15 million deal. New York also used a third-round pick on Western Kentucky wideout Malachi Corley, who is a YAC machine.
But there are still questions regarding Williams' health and Corley's readiness to contribute right away. The Jets should not position Garrett Wilson to carry the passing game again, so it's imperative to add some help on that front. That can come in the form of Treylon Burks.
Burks' NFL career hasn't gone the way anyone imagined when he entered the league out of the University of Arkansas. After getting drafted 18th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, just eight picks after Wilson, Burks has appeared in just 22 games. In those games, he's hauled in just 49 receptions for 665 yards and one touchdown.
Injuries and a poor offensive environment have played a big part in his limited production. The setbacks have rendered Burks' ability to be showcased only in flashes rather than on a consistent basis. But at least the flashes have been there.
Really hoping under Callahan, Treylon Burks can finally become the player we drafted him to be. pic.twitter.com/oQzh5HPjik
— 𝓝𝓲𝓬𝓴 ⚔️ (@FeedKingHenry) February 13, 2024
After Tennessee signed Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd this offseason, Burks slid down their depth chart. The Titans' new head coach Brian Callahan has talked about how Burks may need to perform on special teams just to be active on game days. He may simply need a change of scenery to get his career on track. Burks can do that in New York.
Jets target David Bell
Another receiver who was drafted in 2022 and hasn't lived up to his billing is David Bell of the Cleveland Browns. Bell was fantastic at Purdue across three seasons, one of which being the COVID year of 2020. He caught 232 passes for 2,946 yards and 21 touchdowns. That production helped him get snagged in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Bell hasn't been able to carry that production into the pros. In two years with the Browns, he's only been able to haul in 38 passes for 381 yards and three scores. There's been a few reasons for why that's been the case. For one, the Browns have continued to add receivers throughout his time there. Another would be that Cleveland has had a revolving door at quarterback the previous two seasons.
But Bell has flashed the talent that made him a Day 2 pick. In the Browns' regular season finale, he caught all four of his targets and turned them into 68 yards and two touchdowns. In Cleveland's playoff loss to the Houston Texans, Bell caught eight passes.
Jeff Driskel (2) to David Bell (3)
Cleveland Browns
24 yards
pic.twitter.com/ANPg6s17oN— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) January 7, 2024
Bell is best operating out of the slot, and that's where the Jets could use some help. After the Browns acquired Jerry Jeudy via trade earlier this offseason, it seems unlikely that they'd give Bell a major role. It probably wouldn't take much to get him, so New York should absolutely give Cleveland a call to round out their receiver room.
