When Darren Mougey and the New York Jets convene for the NFL draft in just about a month, it won’t be any secret that Gang Green will be looking to add a playmaker at wide receiver. Having only Garrett Wilson and the high-ceiling but unproven AD Mitchell on the roster, the Jets should be looking to add at least one receiver with one of their top four picks.
In looking at the names that could be called, there’s one that should jump out to long-time die-hard fans out of the University of Tennessee in wide receiver Chris Brazzell II.
Back in 1998, the Jets selected his father, Chris Sr, out of little-known Angelo State (TX) in the sixth round with the 174th overall pick. He would never play a snap for the Jets before seeing action in 14 games with the Cowboys. He would appear in 14 games, catching 7 passes for 126 yards. Now all these years later, the Jets need a play maker at wide receiver and his son has the potential to be one of the top receivers in the NFL.
While some worry about Brazzell coming out of Tennessee, where so many wide receivers bust at the pro level, he’s not like those who have come before him.
A quick peek at his physical profile should get fans excited, but there are those who pigeon-hole him as a “tall, fast WR out of Tennessee who can just run ‘go’ routes”. This is not the case. Well, the route running part anyway. At 6′ 4” and 198 pounds, Brazzell wowed onlookers at the NFL combine when he blazed a 4.37 40.
Taking a look at him on film, you see a guy who can run a variety of routes while taking advantage of the respect opposing cornerbacks have to have for his speed. When you’re head up on a guy who can run a sub 4.4 and beat you 1-on-1, you’ve got to back off to avoid having him blow right past you. It’s when that happens that Brazzell can slam on the brakes to create separation and get open underneath.
As he transitions to the pro level he’ll be challenged by more physical corners who are able to run with him and battle at the line of scrimmage, but as he gets stronger and gains experience, he has the tools to be elite. While he doesn’t seem to be getting as much respect as he deserves from the draft community, we did notice former NFL quarterback Chris Simms had him in his top five receivers in the 2026 class just yesterday.
Of course there are several receivers whose names are more familiar to some fans as their names are repeatedly mentioned as first round talents who could go with the sixteenth overall pick, but if the Jets were to wait and grab Brazzell at 33 or 44, things could work out pretty well in lining him up opposite Garrett Wilson with Geno Smith under center.
