Aaron Rodgers’ ex-teammate just dropped the worst Garrett Wilson take imaginable

Garrett Wilson is undoubtedly one of the best players on the New York Jets’ roster and one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL. He's a former first-round pick who’s racked up three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns despite catching passes from a rotating cast of mostly backup quarterbacks.

But apparently, not everyone is convinced.

Kurt Benkert, a former NFL quarterback and notable close friend (and ex-backup) of Aaron Rodgers, sparked outrage on Monday when he boldly claimed on social media that Wilson isn’t even one of the top 32 wide receivers in the NFL. He insisted Wilson would be roughly a top-45 receiver this season.

Benkert didn’t stop there. He doubled down on his stance, responding to angry Jets fans by claiming that teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills would reject trade offers involving Wilson straight up for Xavier Worthy or Khalil Shakir, respectively.

Whether it was an intentional attempt to stir the pot or just a brutally bad take, Benkert’s comments struck a nerve with Jets fans who have watched Wilson blossom into one of the NFL’s brightest young stars.

Kurt Benkert's take on Garrett Wilson is embarrassing

Benkert actually posted a list of 32 wide receivers he seems to believe are better than Wilson. Among those listed included Worthy, Shakir, Josh Downs, Chris Olave, Rome Odunze, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jerry Jeudy, Zay Flowers, Jordan Addison, Jameson Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., Drake London, and many other questionable choices.

Many Jets fans were quick to make note of Benkert's hypocrisy. Less than a year ago, Benkert posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he'd take Wilson over both Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Despite Wilson putting together a more productive season than both in 2024, Benkert now believes Wilson is the worst of that trio.

Perhaps his change in opinion could have something to do with the Jets' decision to move on from Rodgers. Benkert was a notable Jets supporter during Rodgers' time in New York, frequently praising players like Wilson.

Now, with Rodgers gone and the team heading in a new direction, Benkert’s tone has noticeably shifted. His recent comments feel less like honest evaluation and more like sour grapes — or at the very least, a case of loyalty clouding objectivity. Whether intentional or not, it’s hard to ignore the timing of his criticism.

Wilson is the first wide receiver in Jets history to post three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns to begin his career. He's managed to do so while catching passes from a whopping eight different quarterbacks including the likes of Tim Boyle, Chris Streveler, Trevor Siemian, Mike White, and Zach Wilson.

You can choose whatever metric you want — Garrett Wilson is one of the 32 best wide receivers in the NFL. In reality, he's closer to a top-10 player at his position (probably in that 14-20ish range) than anything Benkert is asserting.

Now that Rodgers is gone, the Jets face the challenge of building around their new quarterback, Justin Fields, while keeping stars like Garrett Wilson engaged and productive. One thing is clear, though — Wilson deserves far better than the recycled narratives and lazy takes now being thrown his way.

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