This is the third part in a nine-part, position-by-position analysis, breaking down needs and draft possibilities:

Position: Wide receiver

Depth Chart: Santonio Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, Patrick Turner, Chaz Schilens, Logan Payne, Eron Riley, Scotty McKnight, Dexter Jackson, Royce Adams.

Not Under Contract: Plaxico Burress (UFA).

Scouting Report: Next to safety, this is the thinnest area on the team. The Jets have one starting-caliber receiver -- Holmes -- and a lot of question marks. Kerley showed promise last season in the slot, so there's no need to worry about that, but they still need a starter to play opposite Holmes. (Burress won't be back.) They need a vertical threat, preferably over 6-feet, that can rip the top off the defense, creating room underneath for Holmes & Co.

On paper, former Raider Schilens (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) is the guy, but he has questionable durability, with only 72 catches in four seasons. You're reaching if you expect him to be the No. 2 receiver -- assuming Holmes is the No. 1. He didn't play or act like it last season, finishing with the worst production in his career as a starter. Based on completion percentage, he and QB Mark Sanchez had the worst chemistry of any quarterback/receiver tandem in the league. Why isn't that surprising? Former Jets Braylon Edwards is a post-draft option.

The Last Time: The Jets traded up last year to take Kerley in the fifth round, effectively replacing Brad Smith. The last time they picked a wideout in Round 1 was Santana Moss in 2001.

Potential Targets: The Jets could have a crack at the second-best receiver in the draft, Michael Floyd (Notre Dame), but it's hard to imagine a Rex Ryan-coached team pulling the trigger on a receiver at 16. This is a deep draft for pass catchers, and the Jets have visited with a handful that are projected as second rounders -- Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), Reuben Randle (LSU) and Mohamed Sanu (Rutgers). Brian Quick (Appalachian State) also is rising quickly. They're all at least 6-foot-3, except for Sanu (6-foot-1 1/2). From the Jets' perspective, the best combination of college production and upside belongs to Jeffery, who has the second-highest receiving yardage total in SEC history. His problem is weight fluctuation; dude likes to eat a lot. If the Jets want to get nostalgic, they could pick Nick Toon (Wisconsin) in the third round. He's the son of former Jets great Al Toon.

Need Rating (on a scale of 1 to 10): 9

Next: Tight end