As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.
No. 4: Eric Decker
Last year’s ranking: Unranked (not on team)
Position: Wide receiver
Age: 27
How acquired: Signed as a free agent on March 12
Years left on contract: 5
2014 salary cap figure: $4 million
Looking back at 2013: Decker had a huge year for the Broncos as the team’s offense rewrote the record books.
He had 87 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns, the second straight season he posted more than 80 catches and 1,000 yards. Decker was Denver’s second-leading receiver and was a huge part of the team making it to the Super Bowl.
Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 12th best receiver out of the 111 they ranked. The statistics-based website also had some interesting numbers on Decker. He had the best “deep passing” rating of any receiver, a measure of how wideouts perform on passes of more than 20 yards. He also had the best “slot performance” rating, a sign he can move around the line of scrimmage.
Peyton Manning had a 113.4 quarterback rating when throwing Decker’s way. That was the fifth-best mark for any wide receiver in the NFL, according to PFF.
Decker did have eight drops, but considering how many passes he had thrown his way (137), that is somewhat understandable.
Outlook for 2014: The Jets pounced on Decker when free agency opened, hoping he will solve the problems they have had at wide receiver for the last few years. The Jets signed him to a five-year, $36.25 million deal.
There is a ton of pressure on Decker. He arrives in New York armed with the big contract and even bigger expectations. Decker was the big free agent signing for the Jets. They added Michael Vick and Chris Johnson, who are more accomplished than Decker, but neither comes in with the type of money or expectations Decker brings.
Decker is expected to help second-year quarterback Geno Smith blossom. The refrain last year was that Smith had no weapons around him. The Jets hope Decker becomes their weapon of mass production.
In Denver, Decker had a great offense around him, starting with Peyton Manning at quarterback. But he also had Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Julius Thomas helping him get open by drawing defenders.
How will he adjust to being the No. 1 option with the Jets and plying with Smith, who is a far cry from Manning?
The Jets paid Decker like a star. Now, they’ll find out if he really is one.