It turns out Aaron Rodgers isn't the only Jet player willing to share his ideas on which players general manager Joe Douglas should target to shore up his roster.
Two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner borrows from his friend Rodgers' strategy and would like to see the Jets upgrade their receiver corps in free agency.
In response to a request made by the X's fan-run account to its 28,200 followers, “Please name a free agent that the Jets should sign that no one is talking about.” Gardner answered “Calvin Ridley & Tee” with Higgins.
No Jets fan would argue with such a move, as the team enters the offseason in great need of receivers.
Garrett Wilson led the team with 95 catches for 1,042 yards, followed by Allen Lazard, who had 23 catches for 311 yards each among receivers, excluding tight ends and running backs.
Lazard is in the second year of a four-year, $44 million deal and should be even better next year with former Packers teammate Rodgers throwing the ball to him.
But Ridley (76 catches, 1,016 yards, eight touchdowns with the Jaguars) and Higgins (42 catches, 656 yards, five touchdowns in an injury-shortened 11-game season) are both at risk of injury. If they can avoid that, they could end up with a bigger deal than Lazard. Earn the franchise tag and reach free agency.
Higgins' contract is expected to be worth four years and $74 million, while Ridley's contract is expected to be worth four years and $68.2 million. sporack.com.
Gardner played against Higgins as a rookie, but not against Ridley.
