Garrett Wilson seems very happy the NY Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers

A number of NY Jets players are undoubtedly disappointed in the team's decision to move on from Aaron Rodgers this offseason. One player who likely shares a vastly different sentiment, however, is Garrett Wilson.

The relationship between Rodgers and Wilson reportedly deteriorated over the course of last season, with tensions rising after the Davante Adams trade. Wilson’s future has been a topic of significant debate in recent months.

The Jets’ star wide receiver has been at the center of trade rumors, with some speculating that Rodgers could be at the root of his frustrations. That’s why the Jets’ decision to move on from Rodgers could have a positive ripple effect throughout the locker room in this case.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported on Sunday that "Rodgers' departure greatly increases the chances of Garrett Wilson's return." Cimini noted that it became obvious to those in the organization that "Rodgers was favoring Adams over Wilson in the passing game."

Garrett Wilson trade less likely after NY Jets' Aaron Rodgers decision

Wilson has made his frustrations with the Jets organization clear over the last year-plus. The former Ohio State star reportedly expressed to the Jets in 2023 that he might not want to stick around in the future if things didn't improve in 2024.

Not only did things not improve — they got substantially worse.

The Jets finished with just five wins despite entering the season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Wilson still managed to record his third consecutive 1,000-yard season in spite of the Jets' struggles, but he saw his role in the offense diminish upon Adams' arrival.

Wilson was out-targeted by Adams 112-to-87 including 21-to-11 in the red zone after the trade. Combine that with the Jets' offensive and overall team woes and it's easy to see why Wilson was frustrated.

It's unclear if Rodgers' departure means Wilson definitely won't request a trade, but it does seem less likely now, as Cimini suggested. The good news for the Jets is that they control Wilson's destiny regardless.

The Jets have Wilson under contract in 2025 and 2026, assuming they exercise his fifth-year option. They then could explore the possibility of using the franchise tag in 2027 and even 2028 if they wanted to.

The Jets will have no urgency to trade their star receiver unless they receive a substantial haul in return. Even if Wilson requests a trade, it's unlikely the new regime will honor that request.

Still, it's always nice to keep a franchise cornerstone like Wilson happy. If getting rid of Rodgers helps keep Wilson in New York, you can add that to the list of reasons why the team made the correct decision.

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