Al Iannazzone: Jets shouldn't trade Garrett Wilson, they should just get him the ball
Jets' Garrett Wilson looks on during the third quarter against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 25, 2026 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Getty Images/Jordan Bank
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Jets general manager Darren Mougey’s phone should be buzzing soon from opposing league execs checking to see whether Garrett Wilson is available. Those calls may have already started.
Mougey should not entertain them. The Jets don’t need to get rid of Wilson, they need to get Wilson the football.
This shouldn’t even be a topic, but speculation is growing about Wilson’s future with the Jets. The NFL trade deadline is less than two weeks away and Wilson is frustrated — again.
This happens every season. Between all the losing and Wilson feeling he’s being underutilized — which he is — the highly competitive and emotional wide receiver is prone to sideline outbursts. Everyone saw the most recent one during Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins when Wilson was targeted just three times and caught two passes in a three-point defeat.
Contending teams who need receiver help have to call Mougey. They’re just doing their jobs. Teams such as Kansas City, San Francisco and Buffalo make sense. Mougey wouldn’t consider sending Wilson to the AFC East rival Bills, if he’s even considering moving Wilson at all. He may not be. He should not be.
Wilson, who signed a four-year, $130 million extension last summer, is under the Jets’ control through 2030. He came out on Wednesday and said he didn’t want to be traded, but wants to win. Eventually it may be time for the two sides to separate, but not now.
“I want to be here, man,” Wilson said. “I want to win games. That’s the one thing we’ve been missing on here. I love it here. Do I love it more than I love winning? Nah, to be completely honest, but I’m hopeful.”
Wilson sees the speculation and he understands the “narrative” is formed by the Jets’ lack of success and his sideline rant. He said he’s been optimistic each of his five seasons with the Jets. He truly believed they would be a playoff team this year. They’re 2-5, and 1-4 in one-score games
“That’s why these ones, each weekend, hurt a little more,” Wilson said.
The Jets have a rising star in the 26-year-old, if they could only figure out how to use him properly. It shouldn’t be that difficult, but it always is with the Jets.
Eighty-seven NFL players were targeted more than Wilson in Week 7. Twelve were targeted more last week than Wilson in his last two games combined (nine). The Jets lost those two by a combined 10 points. That adds to Wilson’s frustration level because he knows he can impact winning.
“Just throughout my experience, when things go right, I tend to have a part in that,” Wilson said. “When it doesn’t, it seems avoidable. That’s my main frustration.”
Mougey’s reputation as a dealer furthers the speculation and intrigue. He has made 13 trades involving players over the last 14 months. At last year’s deadline, Mougey traded presumed cornerstone players Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams to Indianapolis and Dallas, respectively.
The circumstances were different, though. The Jets were 1-7 and realized that the Justin Fields quarterback experiment wasn’t working. Williams requested a trade. The Jets needed draft capital to expedite their rebuilding effort.
Mougey couldn’t say no to either deal, which landed the Jets three first-round picks, a second-rounder and receiver Adonai Mitchell. They used Indianapolis’ first this year on tight end Kenyon Sadiq and Dallas’ second on cornerback D’Angelo Ponds.
The Jets have three first-round selections next year that, as of now, are in the top 12. The Colts’ No. 1 could end up being a top-three pick since Indianapolis is in fire-sale mode.
In all likelihood, the Jets will take a quarterback with one of those picks, someone who Mougey views as the potential future of this organization. That’s another reason it doesn’t make sense to move Wilson. You don’t want to take away the young quarterback’s best weapon.
The Jets actually have a good setup for their current quarterback, Geno Smith, and whoever is running the offense next year. They have good talent and depth at all the skill positions. They’re wasting Wilson’s talents.
Aaron Glenn said Miami was “trying to make sure they take Garrett away.” That can be said every game.
Defenses try to limit the opponents’ best players from getting the ball all the time. Other teams figure out how to make it work. Seattle gets the football to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Rams to Puka Nacua, the Lions to Amon-Ra St. Brown, the Cowboys to CeeDee Lamb, and the list goes on.
“I wouldn’t say anyone’s doing anything Houdini or superpower, trying to take me away,” Wilson said.
No, the Jets are the ones making Wilson disappear on game days. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get him the ball. The speculation, narrative and the Jets’ record would be different if they did.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
