A pair of free agents – wide receiver Aaron Dobson and running back/returner Dexter McCluster – auditioned for the Jets on Friday, reports Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter links). Both players have been available since the Patriots and Titans, respectively, cut them last weekend.
Dobson, 25, went in the second round of the 2013 draft, but he failed to live up to that selection in New England. In three seasons with the club, the Marshall product posted just 53 receptions and totaled fewer than 700 yards. Most of Dobson’s output came in his rookie season, during which he put up career highs in appearances (12), catches (37), targets (74), yards (519) and touchdowns (four). Dobson then participated in a combined 12 games over the previous two years and saw his production decline significantly.
Aside from starters Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, the Jets don’t have any established options at wideout, so Dobson could have a chance to make an impact if the club signs him.
With Matt Forte and Bilal Powell, the top of the Jets’ depth chart at running back appears set, which would make it difficult for McCluster to leave his mark on offense. The 28-year-old is fresh off a decent season, though, having registered an impressive 4.5 yards per carry during a 55-attempt, 11-game campaign. McCluster also logged 31 receptions, meaning the 5-foot-9, 165-pounder has finished with no fewer than 21 catches in any of his six NFL seasons. As a special teamer, McCluster took back 24 punts in 2015 and finished 13th in the league in yards per return (9.0).
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