Garrett Wilson may have requested trade if Aaron Rodgers returned to Jets in 2025
Garrett Wilson decided he wanted to continue playing for the New York Jets, and while the team gave him 130 million reasons to do so, was it always that easy?
The star receiver inked a four-year, $130 million extension, but it wasn't always a foregone conclusion that Wilson and the Jets would get to this point. A franchise riddled with poor quarterback play and the NFL's longest playoff drought started taking its toll on Wilson in 2024.
An outspoken Wilson appeared frustrated with Aaron Rodgers as the on-field product showed that they could never get on the same page. The Jets' trade for Davante Adams only complicated matters as Rodgers zeroed in on his friend and more familiar running mate, relegating the former Ohio State star to a supporting role.
"I don't know, to be honest with you," Wilson said following a Dec. 22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams after seeing just three targets in the game's first 55 minutes. "I just gotta go out and put my best foot forward and hope that things fall my way. I'd like to be involved, love to make an impact on the game, but people see it differently. That's out of my control."
There was speculation that Wilson would request a trade this offseason if Rodgers stuck around, something NFL Network's Ian Rapoport spoke about on July 14.
"Instead of requesting a trade like he probably would've done if Aaron Rodgers was back, he is now not going anywhere," Rapoport said.
And for good reason.
New York has undergone numerous changes this offseason, bringing in a new coaching staff and front office. However, nothing figures to be more impactful for Wilson than reuniting with a familiar face.
Wilson is set to catch passes from his college quarterback, Justin Fields, in 2025, while Rodgers is off to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers in what figures to be his final season.
After frustration seemed to boil over during the 2024 season, Wilson appears ready for the challenge and excited to get back to work – a stark difference from the feeling coming out of the building in January.
"Yup, Jets green has been running through me since the day they drafted me," Wilson said in a July 15 post on X. "Despite the ups and downs, the faith is mutual… that means the world to me. Excited to start a new version of the chase next week."
Instead of being the one that got away, Wilson is here to stay – and that is something for all parties involved to celebrate.