Demaryius The Jet? Decker: 'I've Been Recruiting All Year'
PHOENIX (WFAN) -- New Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan has said he'll be aggressive in free agency this offseason. Eric Decker believes he knows the perfect place to start.
Speaking to WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Friday during Super Bowl XLIX media availability, the Jets' leading receiver from the 2014 season said he'd love to reunite with impending free agent Demaryius Thomas this offseason.
"I've been recruiting him all year. Don't worry about that. He has to make it to March 11-12, whenever free agency is," said Decker, referring to the signing period, which actually begins on March 10. "I don't think Denver will let him get there, though."
Eric Decker
The belief is the Broncos at the very least could put the franchise tag on Thomas, thus thwarting, at least for one season, all potential suitors.
"It's going to be interesting to see what happens. I think it would be tough for Denver to let him go. So whether they franchise-tag him here in the next month or give him a long-term deal, he's just one of those premier players in this league," Decker told the New York Post. "If he happens to make it to free agency, I would love to sign him because playing alongside him for four years and especially the last two years made it a lot of fun and made it a lot easier. He's just one of the great players in this league."
Thomas has been a production machine in Denver, amassing 289 receptions, 4,368 yards and 35 touchdowns over the last three seasons, albeit with Peyton Manning throwing him the football. The soon-to-be sixth-year wideout has 343 receptions, 5,202 yards and 41 TDs overall.
Decker knows all too well what life is like once a receiver leaves Manning, arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever strap on a helmet. Decker had 172 catches, 2,352 yards and 24 touchdowns from 2012-13, but quickly found out why the Jets have been searching for a franchise quarterback for years as he finished his first season in New York with 74 catches, 924 yards and just five TDs, mostly on the receiving end of throws from often-enigmatic Geno Smith.
In fact, if not for his 10-catch, 221-yard TD performance in the season finale in Miami, Decker's numbers would have in no way justified the five-year, $36.25 million contract he signed with the Jets last offseason..
"It was tough," Decker told the Post. "There was a lot of ups and downs. Ultimately, I kind of learned a lot about myself just going through all that."
As for who will be throwing passes to Decker and the rest of the green and white receivers next season, Maccagnan said recently the Jets might have to make due with Smith for a while.
In other words, if you're a free agent, buyer beware.
