NFL

Jets land free-agent WR Eric Decker

After a quiet first 24 hours of free agency, the Jets made a big splash Wednesday night by agreeing to a deal with wide receiver Eric Decker.

Decker was considered the top free-agent wide receiver available this year. He had 87 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns last season for the Broncos. ESPN reported the deal was for five years and $36.25 million with $15 million guaranteed.

The Jets were desperate to fill their biggest need at wide receiver. Decker will be the best receiver on the team when he walks through the door. The Jets are not done at the position, though. They could add another free agent and definitely will address the position in May’s draft. According to a source, the Jets feel Decker is more of a No. 2 receiver. They hope to find a No. 1 in the draft.

Decker also said he is prepared to go from Peyton Manning to second-year quarterback Geno Smith.

“I did research. I didn’t go into our meeting today blind,” Decker told the Denver Post. “When you go from a Hall of Fame quarterback, no one else, no matter who it is, can be on the same level. Talking to the offensive coordinator Marty [Mornhinweg], who has had a good track record in San Francisco and Philadelphia, he really believes in this kid.

“When you look at the statistics, yeah he got off to a slow start, but he was hurt early on and he finished the season strong. He improved all season long in a tough market. That’s pretty impressive.”

Earlier Wednesday, the team agreed to terms with offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, who was the starting right tackle for the Seahawks. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Along with Decker, Giacomini visited the Jets on Wednesday, and they secured a deal for him to replace Austin Howard as their starting right tackle. Howard signed with the Raiders early Wednesday.

The signings ended a quiet start to free agency for the Jets, who started the period with nearly $40 million in salary-cap space.

Decker, who will turn 27 on Saturday, has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Broncos. He is married to country singer Jessie James and the two have starred on their own reality show. The proximity to New York City surely helped the Jets land Decker.

He was considered the top wide receiver available, but there are questions about how he will fit with the Jets. One league source said he is not what the Jets need because he struggles against man-press coverage and that is what the Jets see often because of their run-first offense. He pointed to Decker’s one-catch performance against the Seahawks in the Super Bowl as evidence.

Many people also believe Decker’s production is a result of playing with quarterback Peyton Manning and he will not produce with a lesser quarterback.

“Peyton is getting him paid,” the source said.

But the Jets did not break the bank for Decker. There was concern inside the organization that general manager John Idzik might overpay for him, but an average annual value of $7.25 million seems fair for Decker.

Giacomini has been the starting right tackle for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks for three years. Idzik was a member of the Seahawks’ front office when they signed him from the Packers. Giacomini missed seven games last year with a knee injury, but returned in time for the team’s run to the Super Bowl.

The Jets did not have a wide receiver with 50 catches last season. After releasing Santonio Holmes this week, the Jets had Jeremy Kerley, Stephen Hill and David Nelson as their top three wideouts. Kerley has performed well, but is not viewed as more than a No. 3 receiver. Hill, the team’s second-round pick in 2012, has struggled with knee injuries and inconsistent play. Nelson was a nice in-season pickup this past season, but he is a complementary piece.

The Jets have not had a 1,000-yard wide receiver since Jerricho Cotchery in 2007 and have had a rotating cast at receiver during coach Rex Ryan’s five seasons with the team. The Jets hope Decker can change that.