Since the Jets acquired Davante Adams via trade, it has seemed like only a matter of time before the club deals one of the other wide receivers on its depth chart. While Mike Williams was (and is) the most obvious trade candidate, rival teams have also expressed interest in landing a different WR.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, several teams reached out to Jets brass in the wake of the Adams trade to gauge New York’s interest in moving Garrett Wilson, who has represented one of the few bright spots on the Gang Green offense over the past several seasons. Unsurprisingly, the club has rebuffed all such overtures.
With the soon-to-be 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and a front office and coaching staff that may well be facing a “playoffs or bust” mandate, the Jets are very much in win-now mode (an endeavor bolstered by their recent agreement ending edge defender Haason Reddick‘s holdout). The long-rumored acquisition of Adams was always intended to complement Wilson, not push him off the roster, regardless of the draft capital New York could land in such a move.
The No. 10 overall pick of the 2022 draft, Wilson posted over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two professional seasons, despite being far and away the best pass-catching option on an offense quarterbacked predominantly by Zach Wilson. Garrett Wilson earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022, and while he and Rodgers have struggled to develop a consistent rapport in 2024, the future Hall of Fame signal-caller has targeted the Ohio State product 67 times over the first six games of the current campaign (including a whopping 23 targets in a Week 5 loss to the Vikings).
In Week 6, with Todd Downing calling offensive plays for the first time for the Jets, Rodgers and Wilson connected eight times on 10 targets, leading to 107 yards and a score for the third-year receiver. With Adams now in the fold to draw some attention from opposing defenses, the club hopes Wilson will be even more productive and help key a playoff push.
Per Schefter, the teams that were interested in trading for Wilson were also willing to extend him next offseason, at which point he will have three years of service time and will therefore be eligible for a second contract. The wide receiver market is positively booming, and at some point in the near future, Wilson will likely be one of the many beneficiaries of that trend. Whether his next deal comes from the Jets remains to be seen, but it would be a shock if he did not remain with the club at least through the remainder of the season.
Schefter also notes that the Raiders were at one point interested in having Williams be part of the return in an Adams trade. Las Vegas general manager Tom Telesco, of course, was the Chargers’ GM when he drafted Williams and later authorized a $20MM/year extension for him, so his appreciation for Williams’ game is clear. Nonetheless, it seems plain that 2024 is a transition year for the Raiders, so acquiring a player who is now on a one-year contract would have registered as a curious decision. Ultimately, Telesco and Jets GM Joe Douglas settled on a conditional third-round pick as the cost for Adams, with New York also agreeing to take on the remainder of Adams’ 2024 salary.
While Williams will not be traded prior to tonight’s matchup with the Steelers, the Jets are open to dealing him before the November 5 deadline. Pittsburgh, the Saints, and the Chargers have all expressed interest in his services.
I guess it cant hurt to call the Jets and ask but why in the world would any team expect them to consider it, short of a dumb offer?
It’s like when you graduate from high school. You ask your parents about the possibility of being rewarded with a new car…but you settle for a bus pass 🙂
Never hurts to ask, even if you likely know the answer. The Jets have done stranger things. Maybe you get lucky and Wilson did something Rodgers didn’t like that day, too.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. No harm in asking
Otto…. exactly my thoughts. Jets sign Adams and at 32 he doesn’t have a lot left. Wilson is young. I think these writers just imagine things and out them in words
Worst they can say is no. Which is what the jets are saying.
Never know. Wilson could be unhappy in NY. Not like he has much leverage but maybe Wilson was an advocate of Saleh, not happy he was fired, and not interested in staying in NY long term (esp since Rodgers is a 1 year possibly 2 year answer past this season).
Noooooo thank you.