1. Corey Davis, New York Jets
Davis, like Higgins, has been out there as a potential trade candidate this offseason. As the Jets added Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and eventually Randall Cobb, carrying Davis and his cap hit north of $11 million has not been seen as especially palatable. Heck, sending him to the Green Bay Packers in the eventual trade for Aaron Rodgers seemed perfectly viable. But it did not happen.
And of course, Jets head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas have professed the expected company line.
Most recently, it was Saleh.
“He’s gonna be on the team, yeah,” Saleh said when asked directly about the wideout’s (Davis’) future.
Before last month’s draft, Douglas talked about Davis.
"When we talk about great teammates, Corey is a great teammate,” Corey is selfless, Corey is an unbelievable worker, he’s a great professional for some of our young guys to look up to and model their approach, their work ethic to this game. And look, we all know that there’s a business aspect to football, but Corey is a valued member of this team and this franchise.”"
Davis has never lived up to his status as the No. 5 overall pick out of Western Michigan in the 2017 draft by the Tennessee Titans. It’s also fair to say he has not exactly had great quarterbacks throwing him the ball, from Marcus Mariota to Zach Wilson. Yet, with injuries costing him time at times, he has at least 14 yards per catch in four straight seasons.
Davis fits the template of a big “X” receiver, at 6-foot-3, 209 pounds. He’s a legit chain mover, with 197 of his 273 career catches (72.2 percent) going for first downs.
The Lions can easily take on Davis’ money for this year, and cross the bridge of a possible new contract if or when it comes. The Jets can say all they want, but his place in their target pecking order is tenuous and paying him what they would to be the No. 3 or No. 4 wide receiver (if everyone’s healthy) doesn’t seem ideal.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes should have Davis on his radar as a potential trade target, arguably above Tee Higgins and certainly above DeAndre Hopkins as a solid fit.