Garrett Wilson

Look for Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson to potentially be Aaron Rodgers' go-to guy in New York in 2023.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Rodgers heaped praise on Wilson, even comparing him to Davante Adams, after getting in some sessions with the 2022 first-round pick during New York's voluntary offseason program.

"Obviously Garrett, he's a talented guy. I threw him a pass today and just kind of turned and was like, 'Wow.' His ability to kind of get in and out of his breaks," Rodgers said. "There's another 17 I played with for a long time who does it better than anybody, but the explosiveness in and out of the breaks to 17 here is pretty similar."

The Jets selected Wilson 10th overall in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State and he went on to have a stellar rookie season, catching 83 passes for 1,103 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games.

The 22-year-old went on to be named the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Adams, meanwhile, was Rodgers' top target in Green Bay from 2014-2021, and he posted three 1,000-plus yard seasons with the veteran quarterback during his tenure with the Packers.

The 30-year-old went on to post another 1,000-plus yard season in 2022, which was his first with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Additionally, Adams is a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, so Rodgers comparison of Wilson to Adams is some pretty high praise.

While the additions of Allen Lazard, one of Rodgers' long-time wide receivers in Green Bay, and Mecole Hardman could take away from Wilson's targets in 2023, the quarterback's comments about the second-year wideout make it seem like he could once again lead New York in receiving yards this coming season.

The Jets have some pretty high expectations entering the 2023 campaign. With Rodgers under center, Gang Green is expected to post a winning record for the first time since the 2015 campaign and make the postseason for the first time since the 2010 season,

However, it could be hard for the team to win the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins expected to be pretty competitive this coming season.

It's finally done.

After what felt like endless negotiations, a flurry of micro-updates and non-updates and a "will they, won't they?" rivaled only by Ross and Rachel, the New York Jets reportedly have acquired Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers.

Trade compensation, per sources:

Jets get:
🏈Aaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).

Packers get:
🏈Pick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays. pic.twitter.com/Q2vUMfyZGH

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023

Landing a four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer at quarterback ostensibly makes a Jets team already loaded with young talent—including 2022 Offensive Rookie of Year Garrett Wilson and Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner—a potential contender this upcoming season.

But who are some of the toughest opponents they'll face on the 2023 schedule as they seek to end a 12-year playoff drought?

It won't be an easy path, with nine games against teams that reached the playoffs last year (and an honorable mention going to the New England Patriots, who have beat the Jets 14 straight times).

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Buffalo Bills (home and away)

The Bills have won the AFC East three years in a row, though the Jets split the season series in 2022. Still, any matchup with an offense led by Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs is a tough task. Two games against the Bills is no joke.

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Miami Dolphins (home and away)

The Dolphins were 8-5 in Tua Tagovailoa's starts last season and had one of the most dangerous offenses in football. This offseason they further bolstered the defense, trading for superstar cornerback Jalen Ramsey and hiring defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

They'll be a sexy pick to come out of the AFC so long as Tagovailoa can stay healthy. These two teams split the season series in 2022.

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Kansas City Chiefs (home)

The Chiefs are the defending champions. Patrick Mahomes is the defending MVP. Does anything else need to be said?

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Philadelphia Eagles (home)

The Eagles are the defending NFC champions. Jalen Hurts finished second in the MVP voting. Does anything else need to...well, OK, the Eagles lost a lot of impact players in free agency, including defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, running back Miles Sanders, linebacker T.J. Edwards and defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson, among others.

But this is still a squad loaded in the trenches that boasts a passing attack of Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert and has one of the NFL's top cornerback duos in Darius Slay and James Bradberry. The Eagles also have two first-round picks on Thursday to further bolster the roster. They'll be a tough matchup in 2023.

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Los Angeles Chargers (home)

The Chargers have the firepower to blow you out, led by quarterback Justin Herbert, but also are inconsistent enough to blow any lead and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory (see the Wild Card Round against the Jacksonville Jaguars).

When the Chargers are involved, expect a shootout. And a wild finish. Buckle up for this one.

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Dallas Cowboys (away)

There has been a real "always the bridesmaid, never the bride" feel to the Cowboys in the past nine years, with five playoff berths, four divisional crowns, four seasons hitting at least 12 regular-season wins and...just three postseason victories in that span.

Still, there's no doubt that Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb lead a talented roster. At least in the regular season, the Cowboys are a tough matchup.

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New York Giants (away, but not really)

Like the Jets, the Giants appear to be an up-and-coming team. Unlike the Jets, the Giants made the postseason last year. Given the expected disparity in quarterback play between Rodgers and Daniel Jones, however, the Jets should be the favorite in this season's Battle for the Big Apple.

The inevitable is now a reality after the New York Jets finally agreed on trade compensation with the Green Bay Packers to bring four-time NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the Big Apple, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Trade compensation, per sources:

Jets get:
🏈Aaron Rodgers, pick No. 15, a 2023 5th-rd pick (No. 170).

Packers get:
🏈Pick No. 13, a 2023 2nd-rd pick (No. 42), a 6th-rd pick (No. 207), a conditional 2024 2nd-rd pick that becomes a 1st if Rodgers plays 65 percent of the plays. pic.twitter.com/Q2vUMfyZGH

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 24, 2023

Here's a look at how the Rodgers move affects the team from a fantasy perspective.

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Aaron Rodgers

Last year was not the best of seasons for Rodgers, who finished 13th in fantasy points among quarterbacks. He was a borderline starter at best all year, as he had a hit-and-miss rapport with his receivers.

There's reason to believe a change of scenery will do the 39-year-old good, though.

For starters, he now has a potential bona fide star in second-year wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who had 83 receptions for 1,103 yards last season despite playing with four different QBs.

Former Packers wideout Allen Lazard should slide in as the team's No. 2 wideout, so Rodgers will continue that good relationship with him in New York.

The veteran also reunites with his former offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, who was on the Packers' staff when the signal-caller won MVP in 2020 and 2021.

All in all, there's cause for optimism for Rodgers in 2023. He should be a solid QB1 in fantasy rankings.

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Garrett Wilson

The Ohio State product was the No. 21 scoring wide receiver in fantasy football last year despite having the most unsettled signal-caller situation in the league.

Zach Wilson started nine games for the Jets and finished dead last in the NFL in quarterback rating.

Garrett Wilson should get a natural boost with Rodgers running the show. He's a strong candidate to finish as a top-10 wide receiver in 2023 simply due to the quarterback upgrade alone.

The 22-year-old also scored just four touchdowns last year, and he's due for improvement in that area as well.

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Allen Lazard

Lazard should operate as the No. 2 wide receiver in this offense after inking a four-year, $44 million contract. He was the de facto top wide receiver for the Packers last year and turned in 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns. His 100 targets led the team.

It's hard seeing the 27-year-old top those numbers in an offense with plenty of mouths to feed. For starters, 100 targets isn't likely when Rodgers has to spread the ball around to Wilson, Corey Davis, Tyler Conklin, the running backs, etc.

Still, Lazard has proved to be an efficient possession receiver, catching 65.3 percent of his targets for 13.2 yards per reception. He's a solid third wideout or flex option in points-per-reception leagues.

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Corey Davis, Mecole Hardman

The plan was for Corey Davis to lead the Jets' wide receiver corps in 2021 after he signed a three-year, $37.5 million contract. Two years later, it appears he won't be a major factor in the New York offense.

Wilson and Lazard will be the clear top two options for Rodgers. However, the Jets are reportedly targeting the quarterback's old teammate, Randall Cobb, per Schefter.

That would muddle the pass-catching situation for Davis, who has played 22 of a possible 34 games for the Jets and amassed 66 receptions for 1,028 yards and six scores.

Making matters more complicated is the arrival of former Kansas City Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman, who caught 25 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns in eight regular-season games in 2022. A groin injury held him out for much of the season, but he underwent successful surgery in February.

Hardman's speed and elusiveness should enable him to earn more targets in the Jets' offense, but he's looking like a WR4 right now in New York.

Ultimately, it's hard to trust Davis or Hardman in fantasy in 2023 given their presumed roles on the depth chart.

The New York Jets have loaded up on weapons this offseason, namely in the passing game with the additions of wideouts Mecole Hardman and Allen Lazard.

One reason Hardman reportedly joined the Jets after starting his career with the Kansas City Chiefs was the promise of a bigger role.

Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, "Hardman signed with the Jets, in part, because they promised he'd be able to expand his route tree in their offense. In Kansas City, he was used at the line of scrimmage (jet sweeps, bubble screens, etc.) and on vertical routes, with not much in between. The Jets believe he has untapped ability on intermediate routes."

The Jets could have a whole new passing game soon enough, with the expected addition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But there are also plenty of mouths to feed, with rookie sensation Garrett Wilson leading the passing attack alongside Rodgers' longtime teammate Lazard, Hardman and Corey Davis.

So while Hardman might see an expanded route tree, it's fair to question whether his overall touches will see a significant bump. His best season came in 2021, when he caught 59 passes for 693 yards and two scores. Last season he was excellent when healthy, with six total touchdowns in eight games, though his season was cut in half by an abdominal injury.

Perhaps in New York he'll be utilized more consistently. At the very least, he's reportedly expecting a more diverse role.

The New York Jets are still waiting for a decision from Aaron Rodgers and whether they can acquire the Green Bay Packers quarterback via a trade.

Over the weekend, SNY's Connor Hughes reported that the Packers and Jets have the framework of a trade "essentially" in place and await word from Rodgers—who could retire, insist he returns to Green Bay or accept a trade to New York.

It certainly sounds as if Rodgers is leaning toward joining the Jets. According to ESPN's Dianna Russini, Rodgers has given New York a free-agency shopping list:

Aaron Rodgers has provided the NY Jets with a wish-list of free agents he would like them to target and acquire, per sources.
It includes Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis and….Odell Beckham Jr.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2023

The Jets have already agreed to acquire one player on Rodgers' wishlist. They'll reportedly sign former Packers wideout Allen Lazard to a four-year deal and reunite him with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett:

Can confirm four-year deal for Allen Lazard to #Jets, as @Schultz_Report said. Jets zeroed in on him early, and now two of the top receivers in free agency (Lazard and Jakobi Meyers) have agreed to terms at more than $10M per year.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 14, 2023

The Jets are also expected to show interest in Randall Cobb, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

With the Jets closing in on a deal for WR Allen Lazard, another WR expected to be on their radar in the coming days of free agency is Packers’ veteran Randall Cobb, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023

Lazard is a quality complementary receiver who should fare well in an offense next to Garrett Wilson, Corey Davis and Elijah Moore. Cobb is a savvy veteran who would make a lot of sense as a depth receiver.

Even 38-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis could make some sense for the Jets. He's no longer a dynamic threat, but he's a reliable veteran who can block and provide a big red-zone target.

The player from Rodgers' reported list who doesn't make sense is Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham didn't play in 2022 while recovering from a torn ACL. When we last saw him on the field, he was helping the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI. In less than four full postseason games that year, Beckham caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns during the 2021 postseason.

Last week, Beckham held a workout to show teams that he's healthy. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, several teams are interested in Beckham after that workout "generated a buzz."

There's little doubt that Beckham can help a team in 2023. However, New York shouldn't be that team.

The issues for the Jets are twofold. For one, there really isn't an available role for Beckham in the offense. A receiver room of Wilson, Lazard, Moore and Davis is already crowded. If New York adds Cobb, acquiring Beckham would make even less sense.

Beckham has shown that he's a receiver who thrives when he's the focal point of an offense. He was the top target for the New York Giants and had three Pro Bowl campaigns for the franchise. He was a difference-maker as the No. 2 target for the pass-heavy Rams.

Between those two stints, Beckham was just sort of OK as a piece in the run-heavy Cleveland Browns offense. He never appeared comfortable in that role. He probably wouldn't be very satisfied being the third or fourth option for the Jets, either.

The second issue is the cost. According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, Beckham hopes to land a deal worth $20 million annually. There's no way that the Jets should offer him anything close to that when they're already deep at the position.

If New York insists on spending on pass-catchers this offseason, it should instead target a top-tier receiving tight end. Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah are serviceable, and Lewis could be on the radar. However, adding a prolific receiver like Dalton Schultz, Mike Gesicki or former Packer Robert Tonyan Jr. would really round out New York's receiving corps.

If Rodgers is already interested in joining the Jets, it's not as if Beckham will become a deal-breaker (hopefully). New York should be interested in acquiring more players, but Beckham should not be on its radar.

Aaron Rodgers might not be the only player coming to the New York Jets if the offseason unfolds a certain way.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner was on his Twitch stream with wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall and said "it's package deals all over" if Rodgers arrives, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. "I can't tell y'all who, but just know."

Sauce, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall really burned the cheesehead to try and recruit Rodgers to the Jets 😆

(via @iamSauceGardner) https://t.co/xOB9imcrmF

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 10, 2023

ESPN's Dianna Russini reported there is "optimism in the Jets' organization that they are on the brink of landing" Rodgers following an in-person meeting.

Gardner turned heads this past season when he celebrated a win over the Green Bay Packers by wearing a cheesehead around Lambeau Field, but he told Rodgers he would burn it if the quarterback came to New York:

Aye @AaronRodgers12 I promise if you become a Jet, I won’t pick you off in practice & I’ll burn the cheesehead😶 https://t.co/YTVj4H7ZRQ

— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) March 7, 2023

It's not a surprise the cornerback wants the future Hall of Famer to come to the Jets.

After all, the defense was fourth in the league in yards allowed and points allowed per game last season. Throw in playmakers like Wilson and Hall on the offensive side, and the team figured to compete for a playoff spot.

Instead, the Jets went 7-10 and finished in last place in the AFC East in large part because the quarterback play of Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco and Mike White held them back from joining the league's elite teams in contention.

Rodgers would be quite the upgrade as someone with a resume that includes a Super Bowl title, four MVPs and 10 Pro Bowl selections. He struggled last season by his own elevated standards but still threw for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 picks.

While the Buffalo Bills figure to be a Super Bowl contender in the AFC East next season, the Jets could still leapfrog the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins with Rodgers under center and all the young talent everywhere else on the roster.

There may even be more talent in place if Rodgers is a package deal with other players.

Ohio State has become WRU after the elite receivers it has sent to the NFL in recent years, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba could be the best of the bunch.

"Of all the wonderful Ohio State receivers that have come out of Brian Hartline's room in the past few years, rival coaches I spoke to thought he was the best prospect to this point," Bruce Feldman of The Athletic reported.

Five Ohio State receivers have been drafted in the five years since Brian Hartline became the Buckeyes' receivers coach, including Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.

Wilson was the league's Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after being drafted No. 10 overall by the New York Jets in 2022, while Olave also had a big first year after going No. 11 overall to the New Orleans Saints. Jameson Williams, the 12th pick last year, also spent time at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama.

Smith-Njigba still has as much upside as any of them.

"He's kind of unguardable," Hartline told Feldman. "He'll be uber-productive in the NFL. I think he will be a guy that leads the league in receptions and receiving yards. No one's gonna be shocked. That's just who he is, and he's only gotten better, Like C.J. (Stroud) said, he's the quarterback's best friend."

Hamstring issues limited Smith-Njigba in 2022, but he finished 2021 as Ohio State's leading receiver with 95 catches for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. If he reaches expectations, he could have similar numbers as a pro.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson capped off a fantastic rookie season by winning the 2022-23 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Garrett Wilson is the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year! #NFLHonors @GarrettWilson_V pic.twitter.com/noVXmuhDRC

— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2023

Wilson, 22, was the perceived front-runner for this award after leading all rookie wideouts in receptions (83) and receiving yards (1,103) while adding four touchdowns.

The pairing of Wilson and fellow first-round pick Sauce Gardner at defensive back helped transform the Jets on both sides of the ball.

"If you told me in 15 years that Garrett was the greatest Jets receiver of all time and Sauce was in the conversation for being better than [Darrelle] Revis for the best Jets DB of all time, I'd say, 'Yeah, you're probably right,'" Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins told reporters in December. "You see the talent. You see the mentality."

Gardner was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Seattle Seahawks running back Ken Walker III finished second in the voting, while San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was third.

Walker, 22, rushed for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns in 15 games (11 starts), adding 27 catches for another 165 yards. Alongside Geno Smith, he led the Seahawks offense to heights that certainly weren't expected of it after Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Walker didn't start the year as the starter, but he more than thrived in the role once Rashaad Penny was lost for the season due to a fractured fibula in October. Of course, he shared the love with his offensive line after his excellent debut campaign.

"Like I always say, credit to the O-line," he told reporters in January. "We had a stretch where we were struggling throughout the season, but we got it together. To be able to finish like that, I have to give all of the credit to the O-line."

Purdy, 23, has been nothing short of a revelation this season for the Niners after starting the year as the third-string quarterback. But injuries to both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo forced him into the starting lineup, and he responded by throwing for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions while completing 67.1 percent of his passes.

The Niners, in turn, went 5-0 in his starts and won the NFC West, part of a longer 10-game winning streak to end the season.

His head coach, Kyle Shanahan, was effusive in his praise of Purdy while speaking with reporters on Jan. 1:

"What Brock's doing is real. He's a talented guy who is very tough, and when he does make mistakes he understands why and then he tries to learn from them. He doesn't have a ton of experience in this league. So, every time he goes out there, whether it is good or bad, I feel like when you've got the skill set and play the game the right way, he's only going to get better from it. So, there was a number of situations that happened today that he didn't get in his other four games, and yes, I do think that helps."

It remains to be seen what Purdy's future is, given his UCL injury and the return of Lance next season, but there's no doubt that he has a chance to start in 2023.