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It’s safe to count New York Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner among the many who are hoping to see the team bolster their receiving corps this offseason.
Gardner responded to a tweet asking who the Jets should pursue in free agency, suggesting that they should go after Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley and Cincinnati Bengals wideout Tee Higgins:
SAUCE GARDNER @iamSauceGardner
Calvin Ridley & Tee https://t.co/cdwueg5T0V
Despite Gardner’s wishful thinking, it should be noted that the Bengals are likely to, at minimum, use their franchise tag on Higgins, considering he’s the best player among their impending free agents. Higgins is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he was limited to 12 games and recorded career lows of 42 catches, 656 yards and five touchdowns.
Ridley, who was suspended for the entire 2022 season due to gambling, proved he can still be a reliable option on the outside with 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns in his first full year back on the field. While the Jags likely would be interested in having him stick around, they would owe the Atlanta Falcons a 2024 second-round pick if they sign him to a contract extension.
Both Higgins and Ridley would be significant upgrades to a Jets receiving group that struggled mightily amid the team’s instability at quarterback. Second-year wideout Garrett Wilson was the only player to overcome the tumult, recording 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns to become the first player in team history to start his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
The Jets suffered from a significant lack of depth around Wilson, as tight end Tyler Conklin and running back Breece Hall were the team’s second- and third-leading receivers, respectively. Veteran wideout Allen Lazard, who was signed to a four-year deal last offseason, was one of the biggest busts of the year with just 23 catches for 311 yards and one score.
The Jets would be wise to follow Gardner’s suggestions and sign a top receiver in this years free-agent class if they hope to avoid another disappointing season in 2024.
