There’s no question that the New York Jets are in dire need of wide receiver talent after the discouraging performance of Jermaine Kearse and the injury to Quincy Enunwa. Robby Anderson has proven he can be a quality option, but more as a No. 2 wideout.
The New York Jets need to scour the wide receiver market:
The Jets need to find a slot option and a No. 1 receiver to complement Anderson. Options on the free agent/trade market include Antonio Brown, Cole Beasley, Golden Tate, John Brown, and then several other lower-tier options.
Realistically, the only players the Jets will likely look at are Beasley, Tate, Brown, and several draft alternatives. The former Cowboy could be a great fit in a Jets offense that focuses on the intermediate game.
Beasley has earned impressive numbers over the year in Dallas –Â 2018 stats:Â 16 games, 65 catches, 87 targets, 672 yards, 3 touchdowns. 74.7% catch rate, 10.3 yards per reception, 7.72 yards per target (50th / 81 wide receivers with 50+ targets), 109.0 passer rating when targeted (19th)
What makes Cole Beasley so attractive?
He’s a reliable option on third down and is extremely shifty in the open field. Beasley’s speed and agility have been his trademark throughout his career, and for that reason, he will likely be asking for a decent sized contract in 2019.
It’s known that the Cowboys would like to retain the talented slot receiver, but his asking price might be out of their range. He wants at least $20 million guaranteed. Given the beating he takes as a smaller player, it’s only fair he demands a high asking price.
This would indicate that Beasley wants a multi-year deal, likely in the three-year range. The Jets have over $100 million in cap-space to utilize, so bringing him on is not out of the question. A three-year deal worth $30 million might suffice, but guaranteeing $20 million might present bad margins for the Jets.
I could see three-year, $30 million with $12 million guaranteed as a realistic option.