Jets avoided a Terry McLaurin-sized disaster with Garrett Wilson

The Washington Commanders are living the nightmare the New York Jets managed to avoid. On Thursday, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin requested a trade amid a contract dispute with the organization.

And yet, for the Jets, it’s a reminder of just how close they came to a similar disaster with Garrett Wilson. While McLaurin is demanding to be sent packing, Wilson is locked in as a franchise cornerstone despite months of trade rumors.

It wasn't long ago that Wilson's future in New York felt anything but certain. In fact, many within the organization were bracing for what felt like an inevitable trade request.

The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year's relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers had deteriorated, tensions were quietly brewing behind the scenes, and trade speculation had begun to bubble. The vibes were bad, and internally, the team knew it was only a matter of time.

But the departure of Rodgers and the arrival of new head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey changed everything. Now, Wilson is under contract through 2030. But it wasn't always going to end this way, and in Washington, it hasn’t.

The Jets avoided their own Terry McLaurin disaster with Garrett Wilson

The warning signs were there for a while. Wilson’s frustrations were visible over the last two years, even when he wasn’t saying much publicly. His on-field body language told a story, as did his growing distance from Rodgers.

Reports confirmed that there was real concern inside the building that Wilson would eventually request a trade if things didn’t improve. He was frustrated with the constant losing and disappointed in the direction of the franchise.

Fast forward to the present day, and the Jets have done a complete 180. Wilson inked a massive four-year, $130 million contract extension in July, tying him to the team through 2030.

Wilson bought into the vision that Glenn and Mougey are building. The new Jets regime managed to salvage a relationship with their homegrown superstar wide receiver. Wilson went from on the verge of a trade request to under team control for the next six years in a matter of half a year.

Compare that to the situation in Washington, where McLaurin is now asking out. The Commanders reportedly balked at his contract demands, unwilling to reset the market for a player who turns 30 in a couple of months.

The Jets know how close they were to a similar implosion. If Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh were still calling the shots, maybe this story ends differently. The same goes for if Rodgers were still the quarterback.

Maybe Wilson follows the McLaurin route. Instead, they moved on from the old regime and quarterback, committed to their young star, and gave him every reason to stay.

It’s already paying off. Wilson has looked the part of a superstar WR1 this summer, re-establishing chemistry with his former Ohio State teammate Justin Fields and setting the tone for a new-look offense.

In an alternate reality, this is the Jets. Garrett Wilson is the one demanding a trade. Instead, one of the team's brightest homegrown stars in decades is here to stay.

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