Jets WR happy team kept him during uncertain offseason

New York Jets wide receiver Corey Davis. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Jets wide receiver happy team kept him during uncertain offseason

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 7/24/23

It seemed like a foregone conclusion for most of the offseason that the New York Jets were going to part ways with veteran wide receiver Corey Davis one way or another.

But as the team opened training camp this weekend, Davis remained on the roster and is quite happy with that development.

Davis admitted that all of the speculation made for a long offseason personally, but that all of it was out of his control.

“All of that was out of my control,” Davis said. “It was kind of a long offseason. There was a point where there was uncertainty. Obviously with all the moves going on, it’s hard not to think that. It’s still a business, but I’m happy to be here. Happy they kept me.”

The Jets signed Davis to a three-year, $37.5M contract in free agency prior to the 2021 season with the hopes that he could become their No. 1 receiver. But his career with the Jets and Tennessee Titans has been wildly inconsistent, and he hasn't become that go-to-player.

Cutting him could have saved the Jets more than $10M in salary cap space in what turned out to be a huge offseason for the team.

When the Jets added veterans Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Mecole Hardman to a wide receiver room that already included rising star Garrett Wilson, it seemed inevitable that Davis would be on his way out.

Especially since Lazard and Cobb are favorites of new quarterback Aaron Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay.

Even though his overall production has been inconsistent, he is still a big-play threat in the passing game and could excel with a better quarterback throwing to him. He hasn't really had a chance to play with a top-level passer in any of his first six years in the league. He has averaged 14.2 yards per catch for his career, including 16.8 yards per catch a year ago.

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