This is one of the primary responsibilities of a lead receiver – make the defense fear you in order to attract enough attention so your teammates can benefit from single coverage. Edwards does that and he makes the other receivers better.

He had a respectable 15.4-yard average, not bad for a guy who was breaking in a rookie QB. His stats will improve as his rapport with Sanchez grows.

These two were trying to figure each other out as the season progressed and will greatly benefit from an off-season working together.

The one rap on Edwards, and this was clearly earned, was his propensity for drops. He dropped easy touchdowns at Buffalo and in both games against Cincinnati. The ball went right through his hands on all three plays.

He also dropped an easy two-point conversion against Atlanta that factored into the game’s outcome. Drops continue to be an issue for this guy but they do not override his other contributions.

He is a tough, physical receiver over the middle and is a difficult match up for most corners. Throughout the season he ran a number of slants and post routes where he carried two or more defenders on his back for significant yardage after the catch.

His 6-3 frame also bailed Sanchez out of some bad throws. He saved some sure-fire interceptions and turned them into completions.

Edwards is a good downfield blocker and sprung a few big runs for both Greene and Jones. He is also a deep threat as his 65-yard TD against Atlanta and 80-yard TD against Indianapolis attest.

One of the surprises with him was his leadership. It did not get much play in the press but he pulled Sanchez aside after the rookie’s horrendous showing against Buffalo and pumped him right back up.

Edwards helped him through that and has been a model citizen since coming over from Cleveland. He has worked hard, kept his mouth shut and clearly seems reborn in the Jets’ culture.

An encouraging sign was the maturity he showed through the Jets’ losing streak. Similar scenarios in Cleveland led him to criticize the Browns’ organization but not in New York.

He never became a distraction and despite some lingering legal issues, does not appear to be the typical prima donna many teams have at the wide receiver position.

He is still very young (26) and will continue to grow.

The toughness and maturity he showed this year make him a guy who is worth keeping. If he can show more consistent hands, something I believe he will demonstrate next season, he will be a keeper. He is with an excellent coaching staff now and there is significant veteran accountability in the locker room to push him.

There is no way the Jets will let him get away. He is too talented.

He had the third highest 1st down percentage in the league (82%) and that is not easy to replace. I expect Edwards to continue to grow as a player and a person and to form a lethal tandem with Sanchez.

In contrast to Edwards, there are no question marks with Jerricho Cotchery who might be the steadiest player on the roster. He always comes ready to play, never makes mistakes and rarely drops a ball.

Cotchery had decent stats - 57 catches for 821 yards and 3 touchdowns but like Edwards, could have had betters numbers with a more experienced passer. Sanchez’ turnover problems forced the offense to become more conservative.

Rex Ryan incorporated a run-heavy attack in week 12 and Cotchery’s numbers dropped as a result. Sanchez’ role will expand over time and Cotchery’s production will grow accordingly.

Under normal circumstances, Cotchery can be a 70-80 catch guy.

No one runs the slant better and he made a ton of key grabs, many on third down, off this route. This route rarely leads to big plays which is why it was surprising Cotchery was among the conference leaders in catches of 25-yards or more.

He was tied for sixth with 10 catches of 25+ yards. Like Edwards, he also converted a lot of his catches into first downs and ranked 9th in the league with a 77% conversion rate.

What makes Cotchery so dangerous is his ability to run the quick slant and stick route (a short out) with equal proficiency. This makes him very difficult to defend because corners cannot cheat toward one pattern over the other.

Cotchery saved one of his best performances of the season for the Jets’ biggest game. In the Championship game against the Colts he pulled down 5 balls for 102 yards and caught a huge 45-yard pass off a Brad Smith roll out that set up the Jets’ second touchdown.

With the loss of Chansi Stuckey, however, the Jets lack a viable option in the slot and this could be where the team looks to add a player in the off-season. The Jets still hope that David Clowney could be their third option but he barely made it on to the field in 2009.

Right now he is a one-dimensional player. He has the speed to be a legitimate deep threat but his route running is not where it needs to be.

He has to expand his repertoire in order to be feared by defensive backs. He is too predictable and defenses know he will be running go routes when in the game.

Until he can show that he can run other routes, they will continue to defend the deep ball and take that away from him.

The last two years Clowney has burned it up in the preseason where he can feast off lesser talent but he must run the entire route tree if he is going to succeed against more experienced competition.

For him to get more playing time, he has to show he can set up defenders with double moves and get open on a more consistent basis. Right now he is a straight-line guy who can only thrive when by outrunning the defender.

He had 14 catches for 191 yards and 1 touchdown but that is not enough for a guy with his talent. He had a nice 35-yard TD catch in Oakland and an impressive 53-yard catch in Miami that set up a TD but otherwise did not make much of a contribution.

The coaching staff would love to see him take control of the third receiver job but he has been unable to do so, which makes wide receiver a likely position for the team to bring in some new talent.

Many early mock drafts have the Jets taking a wide receiver in the first round and although I do not think they will select on that high, I do believe they will grab one before the process is over.

Another weapon in this offense will not only help Sanchez’ development but should elevate this offense to another level.

Brad Smith caught only 7 passes for 63 yards and has established himself as more of a utility guy than a receiver. His value to the offense is at quarterback in the wildcat but his role will have to expand for him to continue to make an impact.

He was the star of the game in the finale against Cincinnati but once teams like San Diego and Indianapolis game-planned for him, he was a non-factor. He will have to show he can throw out of the wildcat on a consistenty basis in order to be effective in this role.

As a receiver, Smith has not shown the elusiveness or route running to get open but he is lethal in space, which is why Brian Schottenheimer will have to figure out new ways of getting the ball in his hands.

Although many believe the Jets will use a high pick on a receiver I am not sure the organization is headed in that direction. They have three legitimate weapons – Edwards, Cotchery and Keller – and that is enough to run the “ground and pound” attack that Rex Ryan prefers.

The team took three offensive players in the draft last season and with more pressing needs for a pass-rushing linebacker and a #2 cornerback, they are more likely to select a defensive player with their first pick.