Garrett Wilson wants to stay with the Jets, but they must deliver on their end

The 2026 season hasn't gone the way the New York Jets imagined. They are 2-7, with the Buffalo Bills coming into town for a Week 10 showdown. The trade deadline passed on November 10, and the Jets stood pat, aside from sending Andre Cisco to the Detroit Lions.

Receiver Garrett Wilson was a name that was floated, but there was no real smoke behind it. ESPN's Rich Cimini recently reported that Wilson didn't want to leave, and New York has no desire to move him either, despite two teams reaching out.

"A trade never was a realistic possibility even though the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers were interested. Wilson didn't want to leave, and the Jets didn't want to deal arguably their best player. Under contract through 2030, he's viewed as a foundational piece."

Yet, Cimini did add that this topic could be brought back up if things don't change in New York.

"This storyline could be re-visited in the offseason, depending on how Wilson feels about the direction of the team."

Wilson has made it clear that he wants to be a Jet, but every player has a breaking point. The ball is in New York's court, and the rest of the season can help reaffirm Wilson's belief in the organization long-term.

New York Jets can't afford to take Garrett Wilson's commitment for granted

I'm not a fan of the Wilson trade discourse. I mean, why would you? He's a cornerstone piece of this team and is the clear face of the franchise. He's everything you want in a star player, which makes you feel for the guy that much more.

He wants to win, and he puts everything he has when he takes the field. And not only that, but he's one of the most talented guys on game day. Although things don't look the best currently, there's a lot to be excited about.

For the first time in a long time, there's a lot of talent on this roster, especially on the offensive end. In the receiver room alone, Omar Cooper Jr. and Adonai Mitchell round out a top-three WR corps that Wilson headlines.

Meanwhile, Mason Taylor, Kenyon Sadiq, Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Olu Fashanu, and Armand Membou are other building blocks on the offense. With the expectation that New York selects their franchise quarterback in April, they are set up well for the future.

With a new coach and the assets New York has to add to this team, they can quickly turn things around in 2027 under a new staff. Yet, there's no guarantee that will happen, especially based on the last 16 years in New York.

New York Jets must give Garrett Wilson a reason to stick around

Regardless, the Jets need to do everything in their power to keep Wilson happy. He's signed through 2030 and will give whoever the next quarterback is a true WR1. In the meantime, the Jets need to make sure they keep Wilson involved and have his stats looking as good as possible.

While the Jets will still be tough to come by in 2026, getting Wilson his numbers can help this situation. All players want to put up good stats when they touch the field. With eight games left in the season, Wilson could potentially eclipse his career highs in receiving yards (1,103) and receiving touchdowns (7).

Thus far in 2026, he's averaging a career-best 65.9 receiving yards per game, with plenty more damage left to do. The Ohio State product is leading the team in targets (63), catches (43), receiving yards (527), and receiving touchdowns (three). No matter what, offensive coordinator Frank Reich needs to draw up plays where Wilson is the primary read, and Geno Smith needs to feed him the rock.

Of course, teams are going to call New York about Wilson, but the Jets need to keep saying he's not available. It helps that Wilson wants to be a part of the future, yet New York needs to hold up their end of the bargain and show him that he's making the correct choice.

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