NFL rumors: Insider calls on New York Jets to shockingly trade young playmaker for draft assets..
The New York Jets find themselves starting over after their failed Aaron Rodgers experiment, which began with high hopes and ended in disappointment.
The Jets acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers before the 2023 season, viewing him as the final piece for a Super Bowl run. Instead, he tore his left Achilles tendon four plays into his debut against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, missing the entire season as the Jets finished 7-10.
Despite renewed championship aspirations in 2024 with a healthy Rodgers, the season quickly unraveled. Owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh after a Week 5 loss dropped the team to 2-3, with general manager Joe Douglas following weeks later. Reports emerged that Johnson had grown frustrated with Rodgers, allegedly wanting him benched during the season.
Related: New York Jets insider suggests pair of Michigan stars should be on 2025 NFL Draft radar with top pick
NFL insider believes New York Jets need to trade young wide receiver
Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Credit: Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Now, with new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey at the helm, the Jets have $23.8 million in cap space and numerous roster holes to fill, including quarterback. ESPN NFL insider Aaron Schatz suggests a bold move: trading star receiver Garrett Wilson.
“Wilson was clearly unhappy with his usage by the end of the season,” Schatz noted. “He should have shined with better quarterback play from veteran Aaron Rodgers, and he did. In fact, Wilson set personal records in receptions (101), yards (1,104) and touchdowns (7). But there was definitely a feeling that Wilson could have done more if there wasn’t so much attention being paid to Rodgers’ old pals Davante Adams and Allen Lazard.”
The Jets acquired Adams in a blockbuster trade with Las Vegas and signed Lazard to reunite them with Rodgers, but both receivers are expected to depart in 2025. Wilson, entering the fourth year of his rookie contract at $5.1 million, is now eligible for an extension that could command $30 million annually.
“New York is likely going to cut both Adams and Lazard, which makes it even harder to trade Wilson because there won’t be anything left in the wide receiver room,” Schatz explained. “But trading Wilson would also mean a fresh start with new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. The Jets can let another team pay that while they undergo a bit of a rebuild, dealing Wilson for as much draft capital as possible.”
Several teams could pursue Wilson, with the Washington Commanders potentially offering an intriguing scenario: Wilson catching passes from Jayden Daniels for years to come. The Jets, holding the seventh overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, could accelerate their rebuild by adding significant draft capital in exchange for their young star.
