Garrett Wilson keeps finding himself in uncharted Jets territory

Lost amid a tremendously busy New York Jets offseason is an intriguing trend involving Garrett Wilson.

Thankfully for the Jets, this isn’t the dreaded, ominous foreshadowing that typically ends with an injury.

For all of the jokes understandably aimed at the Jets’ way, the universal consensus is that they have a reliable, standout receiver in Wilson.

And while Wilson isn’t Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase, he’s comfortably settled into the above-average tier.

That’s despite Wilson, the No. 10 pick in 2022, never playing in a, shall we say, competent offense.

The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner has nonetheless seen enough to rank Wilson as the 2022 draft’s second-best receiver, only trailing the Cowboys’ George Pickens.

Because Pickens was a second-round pick, Baumgardner essentially considers Wilson — not Drake London or Chris Olave — the best of the first-round receivers.

Baumgardner explained that he ranked Wilson above London because Wilson’s “offensive situation has been as bad as, or worse than, anyone else’s in the league — and he’s still a top-shelf weapon.”

Garrett Wilson is in rare territory among Jets draft picks

Without being hyperbolic or funny, stop and think about the Jets’ best offensive skill players this century.

Then, ask yourself how many of those players the Jets drafted.

Curtis Martin came over from the Patriots. Thomas Jones was a free agent signing, as was Chris Ivory.

Purely from a draft standpoint, you’re looking at Wilson, Breece Hall, Laveranues Coles, and Shonn Greene. Maybe Leon Washington, given his special teams excellence.

Of those five, Wilson is the only one taken in the first round.

Granted, the Jets have typically used their first-round picks on defensive players or offensive linemen.

The point stands, though, that Wilson has blossomed into, as Baumgardner put it, a “top-shelf weapon” with so much working against him.

Memes about the Jets’ ineptitude aside, Wilson’s rise is remarkable.

Consider the fact that Wilson has achieved so much with Zach Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields, and a string of backups throwing his way.

Olave at least had Derek Carr, while London recorded his lone 1,000-yard season with Kirk Cousins starting most of that year.

Then, there’s Wilson, who began his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns.

The Jets still have so far to go, and the long-term quarterback situation beyond Geno Smith remains unclear.

But if Wilson has done this much already, we can only imagine what he’ll do come Week 1.

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