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Jets Have 'Clear-Cut Favorite' For No. 2 WR Role Behind Garrett Wilson

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 17, 2025 12:16 PM ET

We are at the time of the NFL offseason, where players trend up or down the depth chart, and for the New York Jets, the receiver position is a fascinating watch.

With Garrett Wilson the clear top dog, behind him it is a little jumbled with Allen Lazard, Josh Reynolds, Malachi Corley, Arian Smith, and Tyler Johnson all vying for snaps.

As OTAs have been completed and minicamp wrapped up last week, the Jets' receiver depth chart is beginning to take shape slowly.

ESPN's Rich Cimini, in giving his takeaways from minicamp, came away with a clear vision of who the No. 2 receiver is.

"Josh Reynolds is the clear-cut favorite for the WR2 job, ahead of Allen Lazard, whose name will continue to circulate in trade rumors now that Rodgers has landed with the Steelers," Cimini writes. "If the Jets decide to move Lazard -- a big if -- it probably wouldn't be until the end of the preseason. But only if they're comfortable with their receiver depth."

Reynolds has skins on the wall with Tanner Engstrand, whom he spent time with while in Detroit, so he knows the system and knows what his coordinator wants.

And it seems to be paying off early.

Granted, receivers aren't going against anyone "properly" at OTAs and minicamp, with limited physical contact, so training camp will be an interesting watch to see if Reynolds can continue his ascent and claim the No. 2 receiver role behind Wilson.

Yes, it's early, but it isn't a good look for Lazard to be overtaken already, and that might point to his Jets future being elsewhere, as Cimini stated.

Which, going by how Reynolds has fared so far this offseason, might not be such a bad thing.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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