Few receivers in NFL history have gone through the level of inconsistent quarterback play to start a career than New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has.
The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year is the first Jets player in team history to record over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first two years with the team. This all came with four different quarterbacks throwing him the ball in each of his first two seasons.
Despite the revolving door of quarterbacks to start his career, Wilson might just be getting started on his NFL journey.
Jets Teammates Rave About Garrett Wilson
Wilson’s approach to the NFL has always been mature beyond his years. Cornerbacks across the league have spoken of his ability as a route runner and surehands as reasons he’s no one to mess with.
It’s Wilson’s teammates, though, who get a front seat to his abilities and try to stop him on the practice field — normally, to not much avail.
“Garrett’s the real deal. G5 is real,” said cornerback D.J. Reed during minicamp. “I felt like he’s gotten better. He’s just a great football player.”
Reed, who’s been part of a secondary that has been among the league’s best over the last two seasons, and Wilson have competed against each other plenty of times in practice.
Even the Jets’ secondary has problems with stopping Wilson in practice.
It’s not just opposing cornerbacks or old teammates noticing Wilson’s maturity and skills as an NFL receiver. Recently signed backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor has been in the NFL since 2011 and sees greatness in the way the 23-year-old carries himself among league circles.
“I’ve been very impressed with him and I told him that the first week that I got here. I was always a fan of him from afar,” Taylor said of Wilson.
“I feel like I caught a lot of their games last year, so I got a chance to see him. Then actually being around him, seeing the way he works, the way he’s intentional about his approach.”
Tyrod Taylor says he's "very impressed" with Garrett Wilson:
"His attitude and his approach day-to-day also lifts up that room and brings high expectations across the board." pic.twitter.com/abrFiw1vpV
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) June 11, 2024
Taylor connected with Wilson twice for long gains on the final day of minicamp practices while showing he can run the offense should something happen to Aaron Rodgers again in 2024.
Stability has alluded the former Ohio State wideout for much of his career so far, but it hasn’t deterred Wilson’s work ethic or his ability to beat defenses at the highest level. It might set him up for a season fans haven’t seen in a receiver in quite some time.
Projecting Wilson’s 2024 Season
Any sort of projection that follows Wilson this season has to start with the question of who is throwing him the football. With Rodgers expected back for a full 17-game season after suffering an Achilles injury in 2023, the sky could be the limit for New York’s top receiver.
In Wilson’s first two seasons, Jets quarterbacks have targeted him 315 times, with last year’s 168 being a career high.
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It’s also important to remember that those targets ranked fourth in the NFL among receivers last season, and they came as a result of the Jets not having a single other receiver record over 350 yards.
Despite the offseason additions of Mike Williams and Malachi Corley, the Jets are still going to rely on Wilson to be a top receiver in the offense. And it certainly pays to be a No. 1 receiver with Rodgers at quarterback.
A healthy Aaron Rodgers with Garrett Wilson is good for football.
(🎥 @nyjets)pic.twitter.com/dNQ50Af6t5
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 4, 2024
As with any projection, injuries play a major role. But after coming off a season totaling 95 receptions, it’s safe to assume Wilson can become the second player in Jets history to record over 100 catches in a season and potentially blow by Brandon Marshall’s team record of 109.
In the yards department, the stability at quarterback and the increase in weapons around him, should give Wilson more of an opportunity to both stretch the field and find himself open. Anything close to 1,500 yards is fair game for him, including 10+ touchdowns that go with it.
The hardest projection for Wilson is targets. On one hand, with an improved offense skill group behind him, he could be in a situation where he’s targeted less than in the previous season.
On the other, Rodgers has always been willing to feed his best receivers, and he loves working with Wilson. With New York’s collection of wideouts not fully healthy to start the season, it’s fair to think that Wilson can still challenge the record for targets in a single season this year (Marvin Harrison Sr. — 205 in 2002).