NEW YORK — Jeremy Kerley always figured he’d stay right where he is.
The New York Jets made sure the reliable wide receiver didn’t go anywhere, signing Kerley to a four-year contract extension Tuesday.
Kerley, a fifth-round draft pick in 2011 out of TCU, was due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
“I love being a Jet and I consider myself a lifetime Jet,” Kerley recently told The Associated Press. “I’m not worried about all of that. That will all take care of itself.”
The team did not immediately disclose financial terms.
“To have an extension and play four more years here, it’s a blessing,” Kerley told the Jets’ official website Tuesday. “It’s a relief off my shoulders and really off my family’s shoulders.”
The move came three days after the Jets completed a stunning deal to acquire wide receiver Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional draft pick.
Kerley, 25, has led the Jets in receptions the past two seasons despite missing a few games with injuries. He has 22 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown this year.
Kerley has seen his role diminish in recent weeks with just seven catches in New York’s past four games, but he remains one of the NFL’s top receivers on third-down plays and ranks first on the team with 45 targets.
In his three-plus seasons, Kerley has 150 catches for 1,865 yards and seven touchdowns. He also has rushed for 84 yards and has a 10.3-yard career punt return average.
Photo via Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports Images
