NFL

Jets catching on: Trio of WRs join Gang on final day of draft

The Jets waited until Day 3 of the NFL Draft to take a wide receiver, but they wasted no time grabbing two and added another later.

The Jets selected wide receivers Jalen Saunders of Oklahoma and Shaq Evans of UCLA in the fourth round of the draft. They added Quincy Enunwa of Nebraska in the sixth round.

After finishing 31st in passing offense last year, the Jets had to address the position. They signed Eric Decker and Jacoby Ford as free agents and took tight end Jace Amaro in the second round, but still needed to add some help at receiver.

Now, the Jets feel like they have some depth at the position, something that has been lacking for several years.

“I love the group,” coach Rex Ryan said of his receivers. “I think the group is so deep now. … It’s going to be extremely competitive. I think that will be great for us. … I think it’s a deep group where last year, obviously, we were bringing in guys left and right. This one we’re deep going into it and let the competition begin.”

The Jets, who had nine picks in the final four rounds, made another splash in the sixth round when they took Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd, who will compete with Matt Simms for the No. 3 job. Boyd, who played with Ryan’s son Seth at Clemson, set the ACC record with 107 touchdown passes.

Saunders is a 5-foot-9 speedster who can return kicks and play some slot receiver. He caught 61 passes for 729 yards and eight touchdowns last year for the Sooners. He also returned 31 career punts for 465 yards and three touchdowns.

“He is smaller in stature, but he’s as tough as they come,” senior director of college scouting Terry Bradway said. “You go watch him play. He has no fear. He’s blocking bigger guys. He’s breaking some tackles. He’s a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands, too. He brings that return element. It was really an attractive pick for us.”

The Jets may be looking for someone to replace Jeremy Kerley in 2015, when he is scheduled to become a free agent.

Here is what NFL.com’s Nolan Nawrocki said about Saunders: “Saunders is a lightweight, quickert-than-fast, competitive slot receiver and punt returner. Will always have size limitations, but has the hands, suddenness, polish and moxie to be a useful piece for a creative offensive coordinator able to free him up. Return ability adds to value.”

Saunders began his career at Fresno State, but transferred in 2012. Despite his small stature, Saunders vowed to play big.

“I would describe my playing style like a gorilla,” Saunders said. “I’m a savage on that field. I would say between a gorilla and a terrier, a pet dog or a terrier. They’re real small and people don’t expect too much from them. They always like to fight and always like to play around. That’s just the type of player I am. I’m real feisty. I’m going to get the ball and if you tell me to go block the defender, I’m going to go block them and try to ear-hole them. I’m just going to do my best. I love to compete. That’s just the way I am. I’ve always been that way.”

Evans began his career at Notre Dame then transferred to UCLA in 2010. He was the Bruins’ leading receiver for the last two years. In 2013, he had 47 catches for 709 yards and nine touchdowns.

Here is Nawrocki’s scouting report: “Good-sized, sure-handed possession receiver with the toughness to work through the middle and catch in a crowd. Can make a living as a zone-beating, move-the-chains target.”

Evans does not have top-line speed but still managed to get open deep at UCLA.

“The way I play, I play with a lot heart, a lot of passion and I’m a team player,” Evans said. “And I’m a guy that can go out there and do whatever you need me to do: Catch a check-down pass, catch a deep pass and a guy that’s also going to block for you and just be an ultimate team player. So, that’s the type of player I am.”

Enunwa is another big-bodied receiver at 6-foot-2. He caught 51 passes for 753 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013 and was the Cornhuskers’ team captain.

The selection of three receivers puts the heat on third-year Jet Stephen Hill, whose production has been limited.