The New York Jets continue to revamp their wide receiver group, signing veteran Josh Reynolds to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million in guarantees. The 30-year-old pass catcher joins a team still searching for additional playmakers to support quarterback Justin Fields.
With only two proven receivers—Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard—on the roster, the Jets are expected to further strengthen the position through the NFL Draft. This move follows the team’s recent release of Davante Adams in a cap-saving decision, with speculation that Lazard may also be cut post-June 1 to free up $11 million in cap space.
Reynolds Brings Size, Experience and Familiarity to Strengthen the Jets’ Receiving Corps
At 6-foot-3, Reynolds closely resembles Lazard in both size and career production. Reynolds has accumulated 233 receptions for 3,127 yards, while Lazard has 229 receptions for 3,077 yards. The Jets have already given Lazard permission to seek a trade, signaling their willingness to move on from him.
\With Reynolds now in the mix, the current top receiving options for the Jets are Wilson, Reynolds, and Tyler Johnson, who signed a one-year, $1.3 million deal in free agency. Additionally, the team has younger talents like Xavier Gipson and Malachi Corley, a third-round pick in 2024, who is still developing.
Josh Reynolds (NFL)One key advantage for Reynolds is his connection with head coach Aaron Glenn, with whom he worked during their shared time at the Detroit Lions from 2021 to 2023. Reynolds was a starter for the Lions in 2023, finishing fourth on the team in receptions with 40.
The Jets’ offensive coordinator, Tanner Engstrand, also previously worked as Detroit’s passing game coordinator, which could ease Reynolds’ transition into the offensive system. The familiarity between player and coaches might allow Reynolds to quickly find his place within the Jets’ game plan.
Overcoming Adversity and Challenges in Reynolds Turbulent 2024 Season and NFL Journey
Reynolds’ 2024 season was far from ordinary. After signing a two-year, $9 million deal with the Denver Broncos, he suffered a fractured finger and later endured a terrifying incident in which he was shot in the left arm and back of the head. Fortunately, he sustained only minor injuries.
According to police reports, Reynolds and two others were followed and targeted by multiple shooters after leaving a strip club in Glendale, Colorado. Later in the season, he was released by the Broncos and subsequently claimed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who later cut him in early March.
Despite the challenges he faced, Reynolds has proven to be a reliable veteran presence in the league. Originally a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, he has played for five different teams and had his best statistical season in 2020, recording 52 receptions for 618 yards.
The Jets hope his experience and size will provide much-needed depth to their receiving corps as they prepare for the 2024 season. With Wilson as the clear No. 1 option, Reynolds has an opportunity to carve out a significant role in the offense, assuming he stays healthy and adapts well to the new system.
