Aaron Rodgers is still adjusting to life without Davante Adams. Thankfully, he's finding room in his heart for new friends with the New York Jets.
The New York Jets made the splashiest move of the offseason, acquiring 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers. Next season will mark Rodgers' first without the famous 'G' on his helmet.
Rodgers spent last season pining for the departed Davante Adams, his longtime toss-and-catch partner with the Packers. With Adams moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders, Rodgers posted his worst numbers in over a decade. He constantly bemoaned the lack of experience and football I.Q. present among the Green Bay wideouts and he made his displeasure with the front office an open secret.
The Jets haven't been able to re-team Rodgers with Adams, but they might have the next best thing in second-year receiver Garrett Wilson.
Aaron Rodgers finding fast chemistry with New York Jets teammate Garrett Wilson
Wilson made an immediate impact with the Jets as a rookie in 2022. The 10th overall pick out of Ohio State, Wilson grabbed 83 receptions for 1,103 yards in his first professional season. He did so with Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Mike White splitting time under center. Just imagine the possibilities with Aaron Rodgers.
Well, Rodgers certainly has high hopes for the youngster. As he told the Jets' team website, Wilson reminds him a lot of his former teammate, Davante Adams.
"Look. I love Davante, and I saw him this summer. He is in a category all by himself still. But, that 17 [Adams] reminds me of the other 17 [Wilson] as far as his ability to get in and out of breaks and his quick twitch at the line of scrimmage."
There isn't much higher praise for a young wide receiver than a comparison to Davante Adams. Wilson's developmental trajectory is aimed sky-high, and Rodgers' elite arm talent should only hasten that growth.
Fellow receiver Allen Lazard, who spent time with Rodgers and Adams in Green Bay, heaped on even more praise for Wilson.
"Garrett is incredible. I see a lot of resemblance to Davante. To me, Davante is the best in the league, hands down. But there are a lot of things they do as far as mannerisms, personality, abilities that resemble each other."
Wilson is slightly leaner than Adams, but he possesses the same open-field speed and highpoint catch ability that makes Adams the best in the business. It will be a while before we can credibly put Wilson in the same conversation as Adams — if ever — but it's good for a young player to receive such strong votes of confidence from his veteran teammates.
The Jets have every reason to be psyched about Wilson's future. Along with stud running back Breece Hall, New York has established one of the brightest young offensive cores in the NFL — a bridge to the future beyond Rodgers, who is fast approaching his 40th birthday.
Wilson should soak up all the corporate knowledge he can from Rodgers. No QB has more consistently and successfully elevated his wide receivers. The master of improvisation and quick-thinking, Rodgers will demand a lot from Wilson, who's more than capable of living up to high expectations and delivering Pro Bowl-level results.
New York is expected to compete in the loaded AFC next season. If the Jets' offense is going to keep pace with the likes of Kansas City and Buffalo, it will require star-level playmaking across the positional spectrum. Wilson will be counted on as Rodgers' primary downfield target and end zone go-to. If he can achieve synergy that's even remotely comparable to the synergy Adams once shared with Rodgers in Green Bay, the Jets will be cooking with grease.