Aaron Rodgers best be on the lookout for a 55-year-old former receiver trying to sneak into the Jets’ huddle for old time’s sake.
Shawn Jefferson was fortunate to catch passes from three Super Bowl quarterbacks — Stan Humphries, Drew Bledsoe and Chris Chandler — during his 13-year NFL career, but Jefferson sounds almost jealous of the possibilities in front of the Jets receivers.
As their new position coach, he is trying to convey a sense of urgency.
“I’m just having a chat with my guys in the classroom,” Jefferson said, “like, ‘Hey, you can play in this league for 10-12 years and not play with a quarterback like [Rodgers]. Let’s take advantage of him while he’s here. This quarterback can literally make your career.’ ”
So, what does maximizing the opportunity look like for different Jets receivers?
Garrett Wilson
No receiver in NFL history has received more targets (315) over his first two seasons, but Wilson is about to learn the value of quality over quantity.
He hasn’t been among the top-50 receivers in either season in average depth of target while playing with seven different quarterbacks.
Davante Adams’ 17-game average as Rodgers’ No. 1 target from 2017-21 was 121 catches (on 175 targets) for 1,483 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Rodgers has drawn Wilson-Adams comparisons.
“This kid can be exactly whatever he wants to be,” Jefferson said. “When you are that guy, understanding what the defense is going to try to do against you … and the little nuances of, ‘OK, when we see this, you do that’ [is crucial].
“Really, sky’s the limit for this kid. He has that ‘it’ factor. He has that dawg. And the thing that’s really impressive is he works, he works, he works. I’m probably going to have to save him from himself.”
Allen Lazard
It is accepted that some athletes are only productive in certain systems. Maybe Lazard is only productive with one quarterback.
Before he is written off as a four-year, $44 million free-agent bust, Lazard deserves a chance to show that he can resurrect his career from the dud of last season (23 catches for 311 yards and one touchdown) through his unspoken chemistry with Rodgers.
He averaged 51 catches for 677 yards and six touchdowns with Rodgers from 2018-21.
After a poor start to OTAs, Lazard started making plays and flashing as the advertised red-zone threat.
“Since I’ve been here, he’s been like a second coach in the room,” Jefferson said. “He’s been with Aaron his whole career. He understands what Aaron wants on this route, where to be against Cover 2 or against Quarters. That can be a big-time advantage for him and also for us as a whole sharing that in the classroom.”
Malachi Corley
History shows that rookie receivers never fare well with Rodgers: Six receivers drafted with top-four-round picks by the Packers from 2008-21 finished their rookie years averaging 19.5 receptions for 230.5 yards and 1.3 touchdowns.
They pointed to Rodgers’ complicated hand-signal language and high demands in a report by The Athletic. Rodgers refuted the idea.
“[Corley] looks the part,” Rodgers said. “I enjoy his confidence. I heard what he said pre-draft: It wasn’t what corners he wanted to go against; what players he wanted to run over was kind of his mindset. He’s kept his head down and worked hard.”
The Packers ranked top-five in the NFL in yards after the catch in three of Rodgers’ final five seasons. Getting the ball out of his hand quickly is a strength.
Corley, who already has impressed the Jets with his detailed note-taking in meetings, earned the nickname “YAC King” in college.
“That’s his superman power, right?” Jefferson said, “When he gets that ball in his hand, I wouldn’t want to be in front of him. He’s going to be a good player for us.”
Mike Williams
The two-time 1,000-yard receiver, who signed a one-year deal with $8.3 million guaranteed and another $5 million in incentives, has plenty of reason to be all-in.
Not since Greg Jennings (2018-12) has Rodgers played with such an established deep threat. Williams’ 15.6 career yards per catch ranks No. 2 among active NFL players with at least 200 catches.
But Williams didn’t practice during OTAs while rehabbing from a torn ACL, opening the door for second-year undrafted players Jason Brownlee and Xavier Gipson to deepen the receiving corps by “looking good,” Rodgers said.
Williams’ free-agent addition allowed the Jets not to force drafting a receiver in the middle of a record-tying seven first-rounders and add offensive line depth.
“Especially with our quarterback, you have to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there,” Jefferson said. “I’m not here to change [the] whole game. We are just tweaking little stuff here and there.”
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