The Pittsburgh Steelers will almost certainly be in the market for wide receiver talent in 2025, and one hot name on the trade market could be New York Jets’ rising star Garrett Wilson.
Wilson has voiced frustration regarding his usage and target share in recent weeks, but the larger issue could be the fact that the Jets are closing out yet another losing season in Week 18. And that’s despite Wilson — the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year — surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark in all three of his NFL seasons.
Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay listed the Steelers as one of the five most likely landing spots for Wilson via trade, let’s say the 24-year-old forces their hand this spring or summer.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers have many of the pieces in place to contend—evidenced by the squad clinching a playoff berth back in Week 15—but they still have an uphill battle to reach the Super Bowl largely because of their offensive woes,” Kay noted. “The most glaring problem with the roster is a lack of receiving talent, an issue that could be quickly remedied via a trade for Garrett Wilson.”
Obviously, the Jets would not prefer to trade a talent like Wilson. That goes without saying.
Having said that, Kay detailed why the Wilson situation may not be so easy to fix.
“On Sunday, [December 29], the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shed light on the rift between the young receiver and aging signal-caller,” Kay began. “Rapoport said that sources close to Garrett ‘believe he’s been frustrated at the lack of looks from [quarterback Aaron] Rodgers’ and noted that a trade is ‘one of the options for how to proceed’ should the quarterback return for the 2025 campaign.”
But what if the Jets part ways with Rodgers? Could they then repair their relationship with the rising star? Presumably, yes, although Wilson would likely want to know the QB plan going forward — considering he’s endured several changes at the position since joining the organization.
And at the end of the day, that decision depends on the direction of the franchise as a whole.
The Jets must hire a new general manager and head coach in 2025. That tandem could see this as a longer rebuild in New York, which could mean trading Wilson at peak value rather than paying him somewhere around $24 million per year after his fifth-year option in 2026.
After all, a haul of draft capital could help an incoming GM expedite the rebuild, and Wilson could provide that haul.
“If the Jets do decide to deal Wilson, they can expect to net a hefty amount of draft capital and other assets in return,” Kay noted. “The San Francisco 49ers received several offers that included multiple Day 2 draft picks and serviceable veterans in exchange for Brandon Aiyuk—a receiver nearly two years older than Wilson who was far less productive during his first three NFL seasons.”
That — plus the player wanting a change of scenery — could be enough reason to consider a trade.
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Steelers Among Favorites to Trade for First-Round WR With Superstar Potential