Jamison Crowder's New Contract is Great News for Zach Wilson
By Peter Dewey
The New York Jets are giving Zach Wilson the opportunity that they never gave Sam Darnold.
Darnold, who simply didn’t have the weapons or coaching to succeed in his time in New York, can only look on in envy as the Jets restructured Jamison Crowder’s deal to keep him in New York this season.
Crowder, who looked like a potential trade candidate, will remain with a receiving corps that now includes offseason acquisitions Corey Davis and Keelan Cole as well as second-year wideout Denzel Mims.
The #Jets and WR Jamison Crowder have finalized a renegotiated contract with plans to keep him on the team for the 2021 season, source said. Crowder will be a free agent next offseason at age 28 to get another payday before age 30.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 14, 2021
Crowder was arguably the Jets best receiver in the 12 games he appeared in last season. He made 59 catches for 699 yards and six touchdowns, and will now fit in perfectly as the slot receiver in New York’s offense in 2021.
Davis nearly had a 1,000-yard season in 2020 as the No. 2 option in Tennessee, and Cole had a breakout campaign for the Jacksonville Jaguars where he caught 55 passes.
Wilson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, will now have a solid complement of options at his disposal as he tries to adjust to life in the NFL.
WynnBET isn’t as confident in Wilson, as he’s fourth on the odds list to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Trey Lance (+700) and Justin Fields (+525) are ahead of Wilson even though they don’t have a direct path to the starting job.
Still, Wilson should be happy with the Crowder news, and Jets fans should be as well. After failing to give Darnold, another top-three pick, the necessary tools to succeed, the Jets seem focused on making sure Wilson will have playmakers (and veteran playmakers in this instance) around him.
There are certainly going to be growing pains, and the Jets are only projected to win 6.5 games, with the under (-145) as the favorite, this season.
However, New York doesn’t need to contend right away. Allowing Wilson to succeed early and build confidence will only bode well for the future of the franchise. Bringing Crowder back for the 2021 season while still having financial flexibility next offseason is a huge win for the Jets.