Eric Decker will join the Jets next season.
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The Jets added the biggest free agent left on anyone’s draft board with the signing of wide receiver Eric Decker late Wednesday night. Decker gives the Jets their highest-profile wide receiver since obtaining Santonio Holmes in a trade in 2010.
The deal is reportedly for five years and $36.25 million — $15 million of which is guaranteed.
Decker put together a career season in 2013 with the benefit of Peyton Manning under center. He was second on the Broncos with 87 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last season, the Jets had just 13 receiving touchdowns with seven by wide receivers.
No wide receiver had more than Jeremy Kerley’s three receiving touchdowns last year.
It will be a challenge for Decker to come close to putting up those types of numbers in New York, especially given the challenges Geno Smith went though in his rookie season in 2013. But a source tells Metro that Decker was intrigued by the Jets and the opportunity to prove he isn’t just a product of a Manning offense.
Decker can be a big target down the field. He is considered to be a solid route runner and attacks the ball very well.
On Wednesday night, Decker was picked up by a member of the team’s personnel staff a little after 7:30 p.m. and taken to Roots Steakhouse in Morristown, N.J. Decker dined with members of the personnel staff as well as head coach Rex Ryan. The team announced the deal at 11:30 p.m.
Decker wasn’t the only signing to emerge from the team’s facility on Wednesday with the Jets picking up right tackle Breno Giacomini. After losing Austin Howard, the team’s starter over the past two years, to the Raiders the day before, the Jets tightend up their offensive line with the powerful Giacomini, who has played in 31 games over the past two years for the Super Bowl-champion Seahawks.
The Jets also made official on Wednesday the re-signing of defensive end Leger Douzable. The veteran lineman had 19 total tackles and 1 1/2 sacks for the Jets last season. He came on strong at the end of the season and solidified his place in the rotation as a valuable pass rusher.
A source close to the team said Douzable’s work ethic and his versatility made him a natural fit to return to the Jets for a second year. His contract was a one-year deal.
Follow Jets beat writer Kristian Dyer on Twitter @KristianRDyer.
