A Lot of ‘Wow’ Potential in the Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson Connection

[JetNation]

Written by Dylan Tereman

In the seven short weeks since being acquired via blockbuster trade from the Green Bay Packers, Aaron Rodgers has had a lot to say about his new team, as well as his new teammates. One player who has received more praise than the rest is wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and if we’re being objective, it’s certainly warranted.

Aaron Rodgers on Garrett Wilson:

"He's a talented guy, man. I threw him a pass today and just kind of turned and was like: Wow!"

Rodgers compared Wilson's ability to get in and out of breaks to Davante Adams. #Jets

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) May 2, 2023

Wilson enters this season having already accomplished one of the highest honors possible in his first season in the Green & White: Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite playing with some of the league’s worst quarterback play in 2022, Wilson racked up 1,103 yards and 4 TDs en route to securing his spot as the top offensive rookie in the NFL. Now with a four time MVP in Rodgers under center, his development into an elite pass catcher is all but staring him in the face. Here is what Rodgers had to say about his new WR1 in New York:

“I love Garrett. I mean awesome, awesome young kid. The whole world in front of him. He’s got all the talent and ability… I mean there’s at least one time at practice he does something, you’re kind of looking back at Todd and Hack and Rob, everybody’s looking back going, ‘Wow.’ So, that’s exciting. The thing I like and that I’m encouraging is more communication across the ball.”

Garrett Wilson saw a 57.8% catchable target rate in 2022 that was bottom five among WRs with 100 or more targets per @FTNData.

He could threaten Davante Adams numbers with the Aaron Rodgers quarterback upgrade.pic.twitter.com/9d7Gcctszl

— Scott Spratt (@Scott_Spratt) June 13, 2023

If you watched any Jets game last year, you were bound to witness one of said ‘wow’ moments. Wilson was special from day 1.  His key 3rd and 9 scramble prayer from Joe Flacco where he made 3 Ravens defenders miss along the sideline (unfortunately coming up 1 yard short of a first down), all the way to his season-high 17 targets in the final week of the season vs Miami, where Flacco was actively throwing to Wilson on seemingly every dropback.

To think what Garrett Wilson could have accomplished if he had Aaron Rodgers in his rookie season.

Rodgers was not, however, the only person coming away with glowing first impressions of the former Ohio State Buckeyes receiver. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was asked about Wilson, specifically what has surprised him so far in OTAs:

“He’s got some amazing body control. I think his ability to get up on defenders and move them and then even when the ball might not be perfectly placed, be able to torque his body into different positions, it’s something that’s very special. He’s talented that way.”

Even WR coach Zach Azzanni, in his first year with the Jets after coming over from Denver with Hackett, gives his thoughts on just what makes Wilson so good:

“Garrett’s spatial awareness is off the charts. Almost too good sometimes, where he can trick a quarterback once in a while because he’s so good at it.”

It’s hard not to get excited hearing these comments from Rodgers and the coaches, the possibility of the Jets having a superstar playmaker in-house could create waves for this franchise. If the Rodgers-Wilson connection takes off similarly to the quarterback’s prior relationship with a receiver wearing #17, Garrett Wilson will start hearing his name talked about as an all-time Jets great, alongside Don Maynard, Wesley Walker and Al Toon.

Rodgers did offer up some praise on several other players, including the starting cornerback trio and three UDFA wideouts, in the quotes below from his press conference:

“We got at some point possibly the best corner (Sauce Gardner) and the best receiver (Garrett Wilson) in the NFL. There’s a legit possibility I think for those two guys.”

“I love DJ Reed on the other side, he’s another great guy and tough competitor. MC (Michael Carter II) in the slot. I remember last year when we played the Jets, felt like we wanted to get after MC, and then after the game, I think everybody was like, ‘He’s a pretty damn good player,’ but also a good person.”

“There’s been some young guys that have been really impressive in the camp. You always got to temper expectations because there’s no pads on, there’s no contact. I would say 16 (Jason Brownlee) and 82 (Xavier Gipson) really had nice camps as rookies and there were a lot of other guys that flashed, the older guys. I thought Irv (Irvin Charles) had a really nice day today, which was nice to see because he works so hard.”

The post A Lot of ‘Wow’ Potential in the Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson Connection appeared first on JetNation.com - New York Jets Blog & Forum.

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[jgb]

Garrett had over 1k yards as a rookie mostly catching passes from Zach. I expect 3k yards and 28 TDs this year by extrapolation.

[Jetsfan80]

2 minutes ago, jgb said:

Garrett had over 1k yards as a rookie mostly catching passes from Zach. I expect 3k yards and 28 TDs this year by extrapolation.

 

*** Sliding G. Wilson several spots up on my fantasy big board ***

[jgb]

Just now, Jetsfan80 said:

 

*** Sliding G. Wilson several spots up on my fantasy big board ***

Several rounds

[Jetsfan80]

Just now, jgb said:

Several rounds

I mean I already had him # 5 overall, so....

[jgb]

2 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said:

I mean I already had him # 5 overall, so....

I’m gonna Ricky Williams draft trade up for him. My team will be Garrett and then all FAs. Minshew as my QB1 obv.

[bonkertons]

Somewhat OT but how cool is that for a kid like Brownlee, going from undrafted FA to a guy getting praised by one of the greatest QBs of all time in a press conference(granted, he addressed him by his number, but still).  Really hoping he makes the team.  I like what I read on him and have only heard positive things since camp started.  

 

But yeah, as far as the main point of the article, I think we're all expecting this duo of AR and GW to be elite.  On paper it certainly appears as though it's likely.  Main thing will be getting decent OL production and a hopefully healthy RB room.  If that happens, Rodgers will put up some numbers, and Wilson will be the main guy benefiting from that.  

[Dcat]

1 hour ago, jgb said:

Garrett had over 1k yards as a rookie mostly catching passes from Zach. I expect 3k yards and 28 TDs this year by extrapolation.

1 hour ago, Jetsfan80 said:

*** Sliding G. Wilson several spots up on my fantasy big board ***

1 hour ago, jgb said:

Several rounds

1 hour ago, jgb said:

I’m gonna Ricky Williams draft trade up for him. My team will be Garrett and then all FAs. Minshew as my QB1 obv.

I run a pair of 12-team keeper leagues, both with an emphasis on rookie draft picks.  Each team can keep two rookies they have drafted in the past for as many seasons as they please (until droppped or traded).  Last season, I drafted GW in one of them and my son drafted him in the other.  

Needlless to say, we are excited.  GW for free (no draft picks) for as long as I want.

[Maxman]

3 hours ago, jgb said:

Garrett had over 1k yards as a rookie mostly catching passes from Zach. I expect 3k yards and 28 TDs this year by extrapolation.

Seriously there is no way to actually compute his upside. He was put in a terrible situation. A situation that everyone else would have failed in. 

He played like a top WR in the league.

I can't actually do the math on what he is capable of. 1,500 + yards for sure. 

[rangerous]

There was already a lot of “wow” potential demonstrated with Zach/ Flacco / mfw throwing to him.  Frankly I’d rather see less wow catches and more receptions. Easy to think he’ll rack up 1500 yards.

[Bronx]

17 hours ago, JetNation said:

Garrett Wilson saw a 57.8% catchable target rate in 2022 that was bottom five among WRs with 100 or more targets per @FTNData.

 

 

 

[PS17]

51 minutes ago, Maxman said:

Seriously there is no way to actually compute his upside. He was put in a terrible situation. A situation that everyone else would have failed in. 

He played like a top WR in the league.

I can't actually do the math on what he is capable of. 1,500 + yards for sure. 

I extrapolated the stats. Garrett Wilson would have had 1,394 yards last year in non Zach Wilson games over a 17 game season. Eight game sample size so not too fluky. 1500 yards and 10 TDs is certainly on the table this year.

[jgb]

59 minutes ago, Maxman said:

Seriously there is no way to actually compute his upside. He was put in a terrible situation. A situation that everyone else would have failed in. 

He played like a top WR in the league.

I can't actually do the math on what he is capable of. 1,500 + yards for sure. 

Max if he’s  healthy 17 games I don’t see him under 1300 as a floor with TDs way up 

[jgb]

9 minutes ago, PS17 said:

I extrapolated the stats. Garrett Wilson would have had 1,394 yards last year in non Zach Wilson games over a 17 game season. Eight game sample size so not too fluky. 1500 yards and 10 TDs is certainly on the table this year.

Didn’t read your post before responding to Max above but our figures came out the same 

[MARTIN]

the year is 2045... The jets are the powerhouse of the AFC. Jetnation still won't format their article photographs to fit the forum. 

[jgb]

1 hour ago, PS17 said:

I extrapolated the stats. Garrett Wilson would have had 1,394 yards last year in non Zach Wilson games over a 17 game season. Eight game sample size so not too fluky. 1500 yards and 10 TDs is certainly on the table this year.

Flacco and MW didn’t outperform Zach, tho we have been told

[Maxman]

1 hour ago, jgb said:

Max if he’s  healthy 17 games I don’t see him under 1300 as a floor with TDs way up 

Yeah, having some more options could keep the yards down a bit. But when a big play is needed he is the guy. What he did last year defies logic.

I would love to see some advanced stat on the. Wilson to Wilson with one of them being very bad and the other having great stats. It is so unlikely.

[jgb]

17 minutes ago, Maxman said:

Yeah, having some more options could keep the yards down a bit. But when a big play is needed he is the guy. What he did last year defies logic.

I would love to see some advanced stat on the. Wilson to Wilson with one of them being very bad and the other having great stats. It is so unlikely.

Rodgers has always been a guy to stuff his WR1 with targets in greater proportion to other elite QBs who spread more. Garrett a real threat to set a bunch of team records this year. His YAC game of forcing missed tackles is the perfect fit for a finesse player like Rodgers who will lead him to daylight with his throws. It’s gonna be a supernova.

[Barry McCockinner]

expecting a lot more sh*t like this in 2023 with #8 throwing the ball

 

[FidelioJet]

Rodgers to Wilson is definitely going to be exciting this year and I wouldn't be surprised if Garret broke 1,300 yards this year.

But in big moments, when big games are on the line - the Jet currently don't have the fire power beyond Wilson.

[batman10023]

11 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Rodgers to Wilson is defiantly going to be exciting this year and I wouldn't be surprised if Garret broke 1,300 yards this year.

But in big moments, when big games are on the line - the Jet currently don't have the fire power beyond Wilson.

then skip the big moments and take a snack break.

 

[Bungaman]

21 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Rodgers to Wilson is definitely going to be exciting this year and I wouldn't be surprised if Garret broke 1,300 yards this year.

But in big moments, when big games are on the line - the Jet currently don't have the fire power beyond Wilson.

I think the threat to other defenses is that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, will be open - and AR will find that guy. So Wilson might have two guys on him in a big moment - and the TE's or someone else will be running free.

[Barry McCockinner]

37 minutes ago, FidelioJet said:

Rodgers to Wilson is definitely going to be exciting this year and I wouldn't be surprised if Garret broke 1,300 yards this year.

But in big moments, when big games are on the line - the Jet currently don't have the fire power beyond Wilson.

It would be nice to upgrade WR2. Wilson is one of 3 single points of failure on the team right now, as I see it. If you can upgrade WR2 while giving yourself WR1 insurance I think it makes a lot of sense.

 

[slimjasi]

32 minutes ago, Barry McCockinner said:

It would be nice to upgrade WR2. Wilson is one of 3 single points of failure on the team right now, as I see it. If you can upgrade WR2 while giving yourself WR1 insurance I think it makes a lot of sense.

 

If they aren't sniffing around Hopkins, you have to figure this isn't happening. They like their WRs more than a lot of us do. 

[FidelioJet]

4 hours ago, Bungaman said:

I think the threat to other defenses is that SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, will be open - and AR will find that guy. So Wilson might have two guys on him in a big moment - and the TE's or someone else will be running free.

That's my point here.  I'm not sure anyone else scares anyone.  If they had a second legitimate weapon things might be different.

[FidelioJet]

4 hours ago, Barry McCockinner said:

It would be nice to upgrade WR2. Wilson is one of 3 single points of failure on the team right now, as I see it. If you can upgrade WR2 while giving yourself WR1 insurance I think it makes a lot of sense.

 

Of course.  Jets management clearly knows this as well and aren't doing anything about it.  When there is and have been clear opportunities to solve this problem.

What that tells me is the Jets management do not believe this is a legitimate Super Bowl contending roster.  Otherwise they wouldn't leave that up to chance.

[#27TheDominator]

Good QBs make weapons.  

[bicketybam]

That's my point here.  I'm not sure anyone else scares anyone.  If they had a second legitimate weapon things might be different.

They won 7 games with Zach Wilson, Mike White and Joe Flacco. They added Aaron Rodgers yet toy don't think that scares anyone? Lololololol