It’s been several years since the New York Jets fielded a competent offense and a winning football team. The hope for 2025-26 is the organization making strides in the right direction for both. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson will be at the forefront of that journey.
Heck, he’s been around for worse. The former No. 10 overall NFL Draft pick has seen and done a ton in just three seasons. He’s a foundational piece for the franchise’s ongoing rebuild, as evidenced by the long-term contract extension he signed this offseason.
Wilson believes in the Jets, and the Jets believe in him. With great salary comes great responsibility, though. Fortunately for Gang Green, Wilson seems up for that challenge.
Garrett Wilson Open to Whatever Path Jets’ Offense Needs for 2025 Success
New York’s head coach, Aaron Glenn, hasn’t shied away from emphasizing that he wants Wilson to be the club’s featured target on offense. Given some of the rifts between the young pass catcher and former quarterback Aaron Rodgers, that makes sense. A happy leading weapon can make for a happy offense overall.
The Justin Fields era has unlocked a new level of maturity for Wilson, however. Perhaps that came alongside his new deal. Either way, he doesn’t have to be the focal point all the time. Speaking to the media this week, he explained further.
“Honestly, throughout my first three years… I want to see how this plays out come a couple weeks from now,” Wilson said. “We’ve done a good job getting a lot of different looks and moving around a lot whenever we’re in camp [and] throughout OTAs. I wouldn’t say I hadn’t felt that way previously.
“Now, just [seeing] how it translates to game day and making sure that stuff translates. If they take it away, we’ve got options. That’s the beautiful thing, too, like what he [said]. We have a lot of things we can do. I train that way; I train like I’m going to be the focal point of an offense but if that’s not the plan this week, that’s not the plan. That’s part of my growth as a player — just being ready for that but also knowing if they take it away, they’re going to take it away.”
Regardless of whether it’s a necessity for him, Wilson will get his targets. He’s accounted for 469 of them in his first three years, after all. Last year was his most productive campaign despite seeing 14 fewer passes thrown his way. Wilson set career-high marks in receptions (101), yards (1,104) and touchdowns (7) while also enjoying his highest success rate (53.9%).
All of those marks led the Jets‘ important pass catchers. No one will eat into that development this year, but fans have to feel good about Wilson being bought in.
Despite Youth, Wilson Is Embracing Leadership Role With New York
Speaking of which, that buy-in takes different forms. Sometimes, it isn’t just backed up by words or on-field play in games. Despite being just 25 years old, Wilson is expected to embrace a leadership role. It’s something any team would anticipate from a fourth-year player.
Wilson, not known as a vocal person, says he “100%” feels more accountable entering year four. He wants to lead by example and help other Jets receivers in any way he can.
“It’s always been, out at practice, how do you go about your business?” Wilson said. “How do you go about your practice prep? How do you go about your week leading up to a game? Those are the things that even more, knowing people are watching, just giving them great things they can steal from my routine, steal from my training [and] from my practice habits. Stuff like that, just because I know that people believe in me around here and the stuff I’ve been doing, they deem it to work. Let’s bring some people with you. That’s the mindset.”
Even with a competitive wideout room, New York will need every bit of positivity Wilson can pass on. It’s unclear entering the season whether supporting pieces like Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard and rookie Arian Smith are enough. Getting contributions from someone like first-year tight end Mason Taylor would be nice, as would anything running back Breece Hall provides. Still, it’s Wilson’s symphony to conduct when Fields passes the ball.
Wilson appears to be better-equipped to handle such a mental load now.
Garrett Wilson’s Comments Might Be Best Thing Yet for Jets