During the first day of ‘legal tampering,’ the New York Jets signed Corey Davis to a three-year, $37.5M deal. After a much-maligned and, let’s just face it, disappointing tenure with the Titans, the former 2017 fifth overall pick has found new life in the Big Apple.
Free from the shackles of the poison that is Adam Gase, Sam Darnold and the Jets could finally have a breath of fresh air and a sliver of hope to finally be competitive. As the QB carousel continues to spin madly on, the list of suitors for the services of Darnold grows skinny. Could this, plus the echoing support from GM Joe Douglas be indicative that Darnold is the Jets’ guy in 2021? Not the craziest idea. Regardless, Davis projects to be the WR1 for the Jets.
Davis came in with sky-high expectations and flopped out the gate. But he struggled to command a consistent target share and produce when given the opportunity. Still, Davis has steadily improved every season.
Davis’ yards per reception, yards per target, and touchdown totals have increased every season he’s played. Last season, before faltering off at the end, his stat line was nearly identical to former teammate AJ Brown.
Just how good was Davis last year? While still failing to eclipse 1,000 yards, Davis was very efficient with his opportunities and graded out as one of the top receivers in the league according to PFF’s Ian Hartitz
Finishing as PFF’s 10th highest-graded receiver last season, Davis’ fourth-year emergence could lead to a fifth-year breakout.
WR Corey Davis has agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the New York Jets, per @adamschefter
Davis: 85.3 PFF Grade in 2020 (10th) pic.twitter.com/cEzvTO1ESt
— PFF (@PFF) March 15, 2021
Last year, Davis had the benefit of facing single coverage and avoiding the opposing team’s top cornerback since Brown was the opposing secondary’s main concern. However, leaving Ryan Tannehill for Darnold or even year-one Zach Wilson or Justin Fields is a downgrade. Darnold lacks the hyper-efficiency that Tannehill displayed the last season and a half with the Titans. And if the Jets select their next franchise quarterback at No. 2 overall, then there will likely be some growing pains.
Davis is in line to receive a career-high in targets next season, and if he continues to improve he could be in for a really solid season. Still, there are serious quarterback question marks in New York and Davis should be treated with cautious optimism.
Davis checks in at WR43 (-2 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s 2021 Fantasy Football Rankings.
