I think it's fair to say Garrett Wilson has been a little disappointing. Not bad, but not the difference maker some were hoping for. The question is whether 2025 can change that.
So far, the Jets are saying some encouraging things. Aaron Glenn, while meeting with the media, said Wilson will be heavily targeted. Exactly what you want to hear.
His quarterback will be Justin Fields, that's kind of a negative, but that also contains a positive: they know each other, having played together at Ohio State. Back in 2020, in just eight games together (Covid), Wilson caught 43 passes for 723 yards and 6 touchdowns. So 5-plus receptions for 90 yards, with 3/4s of a touchdown each week. That's not bad.
I thought it'd be interesting to look at Wilson last year when he was the true Alpha wideout with the Jets, before Davante Adams showed up. That, too, speaks favorably for him.
First table shows Wilson's game log the first six games, when he was more of the apple of Aaron Rodgers' eye. He averaged over 11 targets and 7 catches for 67 yards, with 3 TDs in six contests.
| WILSON PRE-DAVANTE, 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD |
| at S.F. | 11 | 6 | 60 | 0 |
| at Ten. | 6 | 4 | 57 | 0 |
| N.E. | 9 | 5 | 33 | 1 |
| Den. | 8 | 5 | 41 | 0 |
| at Min. | 23 | 13 | 101 | 1 |
| Buf. | 10 | 8 | 107 | 1 |
| Avg | 11.2 | 6.9 | 67 | 0.5 |
Second table, below, shows Wilson's numbers after Davante joined the team.
| WILSON AFTER ADAMS ARRIVED | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD |
| at Pit. | 9 | 5 | 61 | 0 |
| at N.E. | 8 | 5 | 113 | 0 |
| Hou. | 10 | 9 | 90 | 2 |
| at Ari. | 6 | 5 | 41 | 0 |
| Ind. | 8 | 4 | 18 | 0 |
| Sea. | 10 | 5 | 41 | 0 |
| at Mia. | 10 | 7 | 114 | 0 |
| at Jac. | 6 | 3 | 56 | 1 |
| LAR | 7 | 6 | 54 | 0 |
| at Buf. | 8 | 7 | 66 | 1 |
| Mia. | 5 | 4 | 51 | 0 |
| Avg | 7.9 | 5.4 | 64 | 0.36 |
I don't want to overstate things. He was still pretty good with Adams around, averaging 5.4 catches, almost the same number of yards, and a touchdown every three games. He still averaged 8 targets. And Eagle-eyed readers will note that his pre-Adams targets were skewed somewhat by that one huge game at Minnesota.
Regardless, he averaged a few more targets, 2-plus more receptions, and caught just one fewer touchdown in about half as many games. Had Adams not showed up, Wilson would have been better.
The rest of New York's wide receiver depth chart is not pretty. Allen Lazard is perhaps the No. 2, but he's also perhaps headed to Pittsburgh once Aaron Rodgers decides it's time to play football. Josh Reynolds, Tyler Johnson and a couple of unknown midround picks, Malachi Corley and Arian Smith, are what else they've got. No Davante Adams in that bunch.
In the Experts Draft in the magazine, Wilson was selected at 3.09. Looking at it (relative to where other wide receivers were selected, which I don't want to spoil) it looks about right. But I expect he might go later than that in a lot of drafts. I don't think he's target of mine, but he's someone I'll take about there or early in the fourth, depending on my roster to that point and what's left.
I don't love Fields, but I do like Wilson. Should be a good year for the guy.
--Andy Richardson