National Football League

Jets, free-agent receiver Eric Decker agree to five-year deal

Published Mar. 13, 2014 12:17 a.m. ET

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The first day-and-a-half of free agency was relatively quiet for wide receivers. The same could be said for the New York Jets. But that all changed in a hurry on Wednesday night, with the ramifications spanning from the Big Apple to the Mile High City, from Geno Smith to Peyton Manning.

After visiting with the Jets earlier in the day, free-agent receiver Eric Decker agreed with the team on a five-year, $36.25 million deal, with $15 million guaranteed, multiple outlets reported and FOX NFL Insider Mike Garafolo confirmed. The signing came only hours after the rival New England Patriots agreed to a deal with former Jets All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Statistically, the pairing seems to make sense:

• Decker had 87 receptions for 1,288 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, and has 172 catches, 2,352 yards and 24 TDs in two seasons with Manning as his QB.

• Jeremy Kerley was the Jets' leading receiver last season with 43 receptions, 523 yards and three touchdowns, the club released Santonio Holmes on Monday, and the Jets, as a team, had as many TD passes in 2013 (13) as Decker had in 2012 alone.

Decker, 26, is considered by many to be the top receiver to hit the market, and before the deal with the Jets was announced, The Denver Post reported the four-year veteran was looking for $6-8 million per season.

Well, Decker got his wish. And now teams like Seattle, Indianapolis and Jacksonville, who were among the teams rumored to be interested in Decker, turn their attention elsewhere with Decker and Golden Tate, who agreed to a five-year deal with Detroit on Wednesday, now off the board.

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