The New York Jets should field a significantly more impactful passing attack in 2026.
Last season, they played three different quarterbacks, lost wide receiver Garrett Wilson to injury after seven games, and finished 32nd in passing. Improvement is essentially guaranteed.
General manager Darren Mougey made offseason changes to the passing game. In addition to trading for starting quarterback Geno Smith and drafting tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Mougey also drafted wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with his third and final first-round pick.
Wilson led the Jets in receiving yards last season with 395 despite playing just seven games. That's a pathetic fact. Wilson should have significantly more help from Adonai Mitchell and Cooper this year, and Smith will
provide the Jets with better quarterback play.
There were three wide receivers drafted in the first round last season. Tetairoa McMillan (1,014) and Emeka Egbuka (938) led all rookies in receiving yards. The third pick of the first round, Matthew Golden, disappointed by registering just 361 yards.
Cooper will probably be the Jets' No. 3 receiver behind Wilson and Mitchell. How many receiving yards the former Indiana standout produces as a rookie might depend on how pass-happy the Jets' offense is. There is plenty of competition for targets in Frank Reich's offense.
If Cooper is indeed the Jets' third receiver, he should produce roughly 450 yards. That's assuming Wilson generates 1,000 yards and Mitchell is in the 600-700 range. Expecting Cooper to have about 450 yards as a rookie sets fair expectations, all things considered.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: How many receiving yards will Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr. have in 2026?
