What Does Jets’ Adams Trade Mean for Garrett Wilson?
The New York Jets have pushed all the chips to the middle of the table. This is Aaron Rodgers' team, and they'll go as far as he takes them. After trading for Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams, there are no more excuses.
This is now an offense with Rodgers' "best friend," running back Breece Hall, and receiver Garrett Wilson. There are pass protection woes and inconsistencies on the ground, but this passing offense must perform.
Adding Adams makes this unit better. But how much better, and what it might look like, is yet to be seen.
How might this trade impact Wilson's role?
Wilson, through six weeks of NFL action, has eight more targets (66) than anyone else in the sport. The production hasn't been particularly efficient. Wilson ranks 12th in yards (399) and second in catches (41), signaling his usage as an underneath threat who the team wants to get the ball to.
With Adams in the fold, New York no longer needs to force Wilson the football. But targets are earned, and there's no doubting Wilson's talent. Wilson isn't going to disappear because there's a new star in the building. While his role may change, the shape of his production shouldn't shift too much.
For one, Adams has Rodgers' trust in the intermediate and deep portions of the field and in the red zone. If he's going to someone one-on-one, fans can expect Adams to take the lead. Given Wilson's struggles in contested-catch situations, that's to be expected. But Wilson's underneath prowess should remain a priority.
Wilson has found success operating out of the slot where he can be the hot route, win on option routes, or find ways to separate against (generally) lesser coverage options than along the boundary. Rodgers' proclivity for those easy completions makes that a sticking point.
Downfield, though, Adams should get a significant amount of looks. Wilson has caught just a single target further than 20 yards downfield through six games. Rodgers is still more than willing to let it fly, and with a more trustworthy option downfield, Adams will have the chance to create explosive plays.
Still, Adams isn't here to replace Wilson. He's going to get looks that will inevitably eat into Wilson's target share as he replaces Mike Williams and Allen Lazard. He'll be the more frequent target downfield, but on plays where Rodgers likes the matchup, he'll be in line for easy completions, no matter the down and distance.
Related: Jets Trying To Mirror 2018 Cowboys With Davante Adams TradeWilson's role should decline. It's only natural with a star joining him. But there's an argument to be made that his targets will be more efficient with teams tempted to spend their top corner on Adams and a projected increase in snaps from the slot, where he's spent about a third of the time.
Wilson's best work this year has come underneath, in the slot. Adams makes that job easier and more accessible, even if he detracts from Wilson's potential production.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024, 2:10 PM.
