Garrett Wilson

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert lead the group of players ranked Nos. 71-80 in the NFL Network Top 100 list of best NFL players for the 2024 season.

Here is a look at how the rankings shook out:

Wilson and Herbert both have the chance to soar up the rankings this season as their circumstances improve.

Wilson will be receiving a seismic upgrade in quarterback play as Aaron Rodgers replaces Zach Wilson as the Jets' starting quarterback. Of course, that was what we were expecting last season before Rodgers tore his Achilles on New York's first offensive drive of the season.

Wilson managed to put up 95 receptions for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns despite taking throws from arguably the NFL's worst quarterback room. Even if Rodgers winds up injured again, new backup Tyrod Taylor is also a night-and-day difference from Zach Wilson, who was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Herbert lost his top target this offseason in Keenan Allen and running back Austin Ekeler this offseason, but he'll be playing for the best coach of his career in Jim Harbaugh. Gaudy individual stats may not be in the cards for Herbert this season as the Chargers revamp their offense, but he'll have a chance to play for a proven winner.

If Herbert is able to elevate a shaky receiving corps and running back room and win some more games, that may be enough to finally cement him among the game's best quarterbacks.

Sam LaPorta is a new entry into the top 100 after a stellar rookie season in Detroit. LaPorta put up 86 receptions for 886 yards and 10 touchdowns during the regular season and hauled in another 21 passes during the Lions' run to the NFC Championship Game.

Kyren Williams is also a newbie after a breakout second season that saw the Notre Dame product rush for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 12 games played.

Travis Hunter is one of the most fascinating players in college football heading into the 2024 season, with the ability to impact the game for Colorado as both a wide receiver and cornerback.

Much like his coach, Deion Sanders, he'll like play both sides of the ball in the NFL. But whereas Sanders was primarily a cornerback occasionally used to make splash plays on offense or special teams, there's a real possibility that Hunter might actually be better at the next level as a wide receiver.

NFL Network draft guru, Daniel Jeremiah, certainly thinks so.

"I know this is lofty praise, but his movement skills and run-after-catch ability remind me of Garrett Wilson when he was coming out of Ohio State," he wrote in his scouting report of Hunter on Tuesday.

Wilson, of course, was the 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year and has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He's special.

Jeremiah added that he prefers Hunter on offense and that he has "every tool needed to develop into a No. 1 wideout. Quite simply, this guy's at his best on a football field when the ball is in his hands."

Either way, he's trending toward being a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL draft. The team that selects him is going to have quite the two-way weapon on their hands in the future if they choose to utilize him in such a manner.

New York Jets receiver Garrett Wilson is excited about rumors surrounding a potential trade for Las Vegas Raiders wideout Davante Adams.

"I see that," Wilson said on Friday, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. "I'm excited. I'm with all of it. Anyone we can get into the facility to help this team win games, I'm with it and he's one of those."

Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers previously expressed his admiration for his former Green Bay Packers teammate.

"I love Davante," Rodgers said (h/t Bradley Locker of the New York Post). "Can't wait to play with him again."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in February that Rodgers was trying to recruit Adams to the Jets, but the Raiders had no plans to trade the start.

Rodgers and Adams were previously teammates in Green Bay from 2014 through 2021. They went on several deep playoff runs together, making four NFC Championship appearances as a duo.

While Adams hasn't requested a trade from Las Vegas, the Raiders likely won't be competing for a Super Bowl in 2024 with former fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell and veteran Gardner Minshew battling for the starting quarterback job. After failing to make the playoffs in both of his seasons with the team, the 31-year-old may be enticed by the concept of reuniting with his former signal-caller.

Adams revealed that Rodgers has been discussing a potential trade with him during a Tuesday interview on Up & Adams, although he didn't appear to be envisioning a move from Las Vegas.

"He's in the ear, that's for sure," Adams said (11:22 mark). "He's in the ear, but it's not as easy. Obviously, we can get together and talk about the old times and the potential of doing this and that, but like I said, I'm a Raider, so he knows that."

Still, the potential pairing of Wilson and Adams is intriguing. The 23-year-old has already established himself as one of the league's elite receivers, racking up 2,145 yards and seven touchdown catches through his first two seasons.

Even if Adams ultimately isn't able to join New York, the Jets will still be attempting to secure a playoff berth for the first time since the 2010 season.

Aaron Rodgers has the knack for finding himself in the headlines, often for things he does off the field.

But the New York Jets are in win-now mode, so they've accepted that reality, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini:

One area where Rodgers remained consistent was his uncanny ability to create drama. From the talk about a vice presidential run with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to his unexcused absence from minicamp, the polarizing quarterback provided plenty of fodder for his critics. He probably will continue to make headlines because he is who he is. But the Jets are willing to roll with it because he's the key to everything.

The Jets saw the alternative last year with Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemia and Tim Boyle, and it wasn't pretty. A healthy and productive Rodgers makes the Jets—given their fantastic defense and offensive playmakers like Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall—a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

So they'll take the good with the... potentially distracting. Such is life with Rodgers.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is prepared to accept the challenge after teammate Aaron Rodgers said it's time for the team's third-year players to step up.

"Yeah, 100 percent. Once you've had three years under your belt or two years, you just have more to give," Wilson said, per ESPN's Rich Cimini. "You've got more to talk about. You've got a little better grasp on what's going on. ... We've had some young guys come up and it's really cool because they're all willing to learn and they're willing to learn from me."

During an appearance earlier this week on Mad Dog Sports Radio, Rodgers discussed the state of the Jets and highlighted what he believes to be a bright future. He cited Wilson, cornerback Sauce Gardner, linebacker Jermaine Johnson II and running back Breece Hall specifically, all of whom were in the 2022 NFL draft class and will be expected to shoulder a heavier load in their third seasons.

Thanks in part to the Jets' erratic quarterback play after Rodgers' season-ending injury, Wilson's production went slightly backward in 2023. He caught 95 passes for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns.

Beyond having Rodgers back under center, a sartorial change is helping add to Wilson's confidence level. The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year will wear the No. 5 jersey, the same number he wore in college at Ohio State.

"I feel like myself," he said, per Cimini. "I didn't really realize it, but something was off."

Jets punter Thomas Morstead, who had the No. 5 jersey last year, will wear No. 6 instead.

New York Jets star receiver Garrett Wilson is excited about the addition of rookie wideout Malachi Corley, and it sounds like fantasy football managers should be as well.

Wilson told reporters after practice on Wednesday that he's looking forward to sharing the field with Corley because the youngster plays with an edge and brings an element of physicality when he has the ball in his hands.

"The boy's a brute and once he catches that ball – he's got great instinct of where this defense is going to be at, how to make someone miss," Wilson said of Corley. "Like I said, he can go over the middle, take hits. I'm excited to see him run with the ball once we have pads on because I know I wouldn't be trying to tackle him, man. He looks like a prime little bowling ball out there, so I'm excited."

A third-round pick out of Western Kentucky, Corley earned the nickname "the YAC King" after leading FBS with 2,070 total yards after the catch from 2021-23. He also caused problems for opposing defenders, registering 77 missed tackles over that span.

Earlier this month, Corley told ESPN's Rich Cimini that he's "ready to punish somebody" whenever he touches the ball.

"I'm hell to bring down," Corley said. "The Lord has blessed me with some talents and some abilities and confidence that's out of this world."

If Corley lives up to expectations, both the Jets and fantasy football managers who take a chance on him will be more than pleased during the 2024 campaign.

The New York Jets reportedly will prioritize getting Aaron Rodgers another weapon in the passing game this offseason.

According to ESPN's Rich Cimini, "The Jets are hoping to make a significant addition at receiver through trade, free agency or the draft, which would drop [Allen] Lazard on the depth chart. Ultimately, that may benefit him because he doesn't seem cut out for WR2."

The team has a bonafide No. 1 option in Garrett Wilson, but players like Lazard (23 catches for 311 yards and a touchdown) and Randall Cobb (five receptions for 39 yards and a score) struggled significantly behind him. Young players like Xavier Gibson and Jason Brownlee may earn bigger roles moving forward, but it's clear the Jets need an upgrade at the position.

The top free agent available at wideout could be Tee Higgins if he doesn't re-sign or isnt' franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals. he would fit very nicely into New York's No. 2 role, though it's possible he may seek to be the top option somewhere.

Michael Pittman Jr. is another strong option, or the team could chase a veteran on a shorter deal like Mike Evans, who is coming off an excellent 2023 season. It's a strong potential free-agent class, with Marquise Brown, Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis, Curtis Samuel, Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyler Boyd also set to hit the open market.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson voiced his displeasure with the team's offensive performance while speaking to reporters on Monday, and it sounds like he had the chance to address his frustrations with the front office directly.

Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, Wilson said during a radio appearance that he met with team brass and they provided "insightful answers" to "all of my worries."

Wilson didn't hold back during his exit interview on Monday, telling reporters that he felt the 2023 season was "the worst year of my life." While he had an impressive individual performance with 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns, the Jets' struggles admittedly weighed on him.

New York finished with a 7-10 record and failed to make the playoffs for the 13th straight year, which is the longest active streak in any of the four major North American sports. The team ranked 31st in the NFL with 268.6 yards per game and 29th with 15.8 points per game.

The Jets' disappointing campaign was far from what they expected when they acquired star quarterback Aaron Rodgers last offseason. Their plans to contend for a Super Bowl title were ruined four plays into the season opener when Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles. The team relied on a rotation of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian to replace him, and the results were horrendous.

Still, the second-year wideout proved himself to be one of the brightest young stars in the league. Wilson overcame the quarterback tumult to become the first receiver in franchise history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since Keyshawn Johnson in 1998 and 1999.

The Jets would be wise to keep Wilson happy if they hope to avoid having another star player grow tired of playing for a losing franchise.

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is not satisfied with how the 2023 season left.

The second-year receiver expressed frustration on how the season went, stating "it was the worst year of my life."

Wilson's Jets went 7-10 and missed the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season. He was very solid statistically, making 95 catches for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns.

Wilson's stats, while excellent, were slightly down from his rookie 2022 season that saw him be named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Still, Wilson having a second consecutive season with over 1,000 yards is significant, especially given the lackluster play from the Jets offense.

New York entered the season with high expectations after acquiring four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers in the offseason. All signs were pointing towards this being a major move towards contention, but unfortunately, it went south quickly after Rodgers suffered a ruptured Achilles four plays into the season and would miss the rest of the year.

Wilson instead had the likes of Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian under center in 2023 and the Jets offense was putrid. New York ranked 31st in total offense and only produced 4,566 offensive yards. Wilson contributing nearly a fourth of those yards shows his impact, but it's hard to imagine his numbers wouldn't have been even better with Rodgers at quarterback.

That should be the case in 2024 and the Jets will likely have similar expectations to this season. If New York is going to contend next season, having Wilson continue his strong play will be key.