The Jets drafted Kerley in the fifth round in 2011. The 5-9, 188-pound TCU product had his best season in 2012, when he led the Jets with 827 receiving yards on 56 receptions. Kerley signed a four-year extension during the 2014 season. But after a regime change, Kerley was relegated to almost entirely a punt-returning role in 2015 under Todd Bowles and then-new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. He finished with a career-low 26 catches and 152 yards and was cut the next spring.