‘No way’ that Jets trade star WR Wilson before deadline, source says
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As trade talks ramp up across the NFL, there is one player who isn’t going anywhere before the deadline despite increased speculation: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
One well-placed source told ESPN this weekend that there is “no way” the Jets will trade Wilson by the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline, despite any interest from other teams.
The Jets might have said the same thing a year ago in regard to cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, only to trade both on deadline day for a bevy of draft picks.
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But sources say the situation this year with Wilson is different for various reasons.
The Tennessee Titans told teams there was no way they would trade perennial Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons — until they did Thursday, when they received two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick as well. But Wilson does seem untouchable before the deadline.
For starters, the Jets have no interest in moving on from Wilson, 26, who is considered to be one of the most talented players in the league at his position. The Jets signed him to a four-year, $130 million extension that runs through 2030 a mere 15 months ago.
Additionally, Jets ownership is said to love Wilson and would want no part of trading him, according to sources.
The Jets already have amassed a surplus of draft picks — the Indianapolis Colts‘ 2027 first-round pick, the higher of Dallas’ or Green Bay’s 2027 first-round pick — in exchange for Gardner and Williams. At some point, New York needs to prioritize making picks, not accumulating them.
That is the exact plan with Wilson, who is viewed as a central building block as the Jets look to replenish their roster and get stronger on the offensive side of the football in the 2027 draft.
Wilson even recently told reporters that he did not want to be traded.
“Yeah, I want to be here, man,” he said. “I want to win games and 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.
“I’ve never been the best optimistic guy, but I’ve found a way and dug deep, and I’ve been optimistic for three, four, five years now. And that’s why these [losses] each weekend hurt a little more.”
Other wide receiver names continue to come up in connection to the trade deadline: Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr., Indianapolis’ Josh Downs, Minnesota’s Jauan Jennings, Cleveland’s Jerry Jeudy, Tennessee’s Calvin Ridley, and even Wilson.
The other receivers might be attainable in the days leading up to the Nov. 10 trade deadline, but Wilson is not.
Source: www.espn.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.