Douglas: Jets will be aggressive for WR if 'right opportunity presents itself'

After missing out on Tyreek Hill, the New York Jets might suddenly have another great chance at adding a big-time pass-catcher.

New York's been strongly linked as a potential destination for Deebo Samuel since the wide receiver asked for a trade from the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday.

It's unclear if San Francisco will move the All-Pro wideout, and Jets general manager Joe Douglas said Thursday that he couldn't get into specifics about players on other rosters. But when asked about the wide receiver market, he said the team would be aggressive "if the right opportunity presents itself."

"Since coming here, my job has been to get the team better," Douglas said. "I'll do that any way that I can."

The Jets have been trying to give quarterback Zach Wilson more offensive playmakers. The team brought in two new tight ends in C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin, but New York hasn't yet bolstered its wide receiver depth chart. Despite the Jets reportedly being a finalist for Hill earlier this offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs dealt him to the Miami Dolphins.

Douglas has selected two receivers in the second round since joining the Jets (Denzel Mims in 2020 and Elijah Moore in 2021). He also signed wideout Corey Davis to a three-year, $37.5-million deal last offseason.

"It's going to be about developing and helping our young quarterback," Douglas said. "Outside of that, it's about adding as many difference-makers as you can to the roster, and making sure that they fit within the culture and scheme that we're trying to provide."

Douglas' investments at wide receiver have yet to pay off, though, as Moore led the team with just 538 yards and five touchdowns on 43 receptions last season. New York also saw Wilson, the second overall pick in 2021, pass for only nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions through 13 appearances as a rookie.

The Jets, who ranked 28th in scoring, went 4-13 in 2021, their sixth straight losing campaign.

"We expect to be playing meaningful games in December," Douglas added. "We feel like we're a better team now than we were at the end of last season, and we're going to get better here in a few days."

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