Jets Target Free Agent WRs Maclin & Sanders

Published on February 08, 2014, 5:42 pm
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Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin and Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders will likely be free agents this offseason and according to a source, the Jets have interest in both of them.

The Jets’ WR corps were sometimes repugnant to watch this season. Holmes, Hill, Nelson and Kerley had a total of 1,744 yards combined that essentially led Geno Smith and the entire Jets offense to a fluctuating season. The team was ranked 31st in the league as far as passing.

 “We will likely address the receiver position in the draft.” Jets head coach Rex Ryan told J~S.

Santonio Holmes who earlier in the season said that he would be willing to take another pay cut, may get dropped from the team for a few reasons. He missed majority of the season this year with a hamstring/foot injury and he missed an integral part of the 2012 season with the same foot injury. Plus, if the Jets release the veteran WR, the team will save about $8.25 million in available cap space to go after other free agent WRs.

Jeremy Maclin missed the entire season last year with an ACL tear that he tore in training camp. Maclin told CSN Philly, that he’ll take a deal from any team and will play ball.

“For a team that want to give me a one-year deal, I’m fine with that and I’ll just go out there and ball out.”, Maclin said. “Even if a team gives me a long-term deal i’ll still do the same thing.”

Maclin may not even get another contract from the Eagles since WR Riley Cooper made a name for himself in replace of Jeremy. Cooper managed to have 835 yards off of 47 receptions and eight touchdowns. Per multiple sources, Riley is going to talk contract negotiations at the scouting combine this month.

Sanders however, may be tough to acquire since it seems like the New England Patriots have mutual interest in him if he gets released. Last offseason, the Patriots gave a $2.5M offer sheet to Sanders but the Steelers matched the offer without reluctancy. After talking with a Steelers source last week, there is a possibility that the restricted free agent may get a multi-year deal from the team after his impressive season. Sanders had a total of 740 yards with 6TDs off of 67 receptions.

Both WRs would provide great help to a young Geno Smith in the passing game with Sanders’ ability to run after the catch and Maclin’s deep threat skills.

 

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