Imagine a wide receiver who has posted over 3,000 receiving yards in his first three seasons in the NFL, averaging 1,142 yards per 17 games. He hasn’t made a Pro Bowl but has been widely acknowledged as deserving of a big contract extension. There’s one problem, though: his team has gone 17-32 over his three seasons despite his personal success.
Sounds familiar?
The player I’m talking about is…
Terry McLaurin.
Believe it or not, Garrett Wilson is not the first star player to accumulate personal success while frustratingly lacking team achievement. There are plenty of other players who face this fate. It’s essentially a matter of draft luck.
In fact, most high draft picks go to bad teams — so there’s a chance that team still won’t be good a few years later.
For example, Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas, a six-time first-team All-Pro, played on losing teams for all but one of his 11 NFL seasons (the lone winning season was his rookie year) and never made the playoffs. The Browns won five or fewer games in nine of the other 10 seasons. Yet Thomas, a former No. 3 overall pick, kept his mouth shut and showed up for work every day. He did not miss a single game over the first 10 seasons of his career.
At this point, excusing Wilson’s on-field, sideline, online, and media antics as the work of a “competitor” who “just wants to win” is just that: an excuse. NFL players are professionals, and they have a choice about the demeanor they show their teammates and the public.
In particular, being upset about a lack of targets is immature and self-centered. Wilson plays with Davante Adams, and yet, his season-long target share is still 25.8%, which is on par with CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown and higher than Terry McLaurin and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Even since Adams arrived, Wilson still has a 23.6% target share, which is higher than McLaurin’s, Smith-Njigba’s, and Brian Thomas Jr.’s. These are some of the most efficient and successful receivers in the NFL. Yet Wilson complains that he hasn’t been targeted enough or had enough downfield targets.
Wilson hasn’t asked for a trade yet, but people in his camp expect that he will. His body language and evasive media answers certainly suggest it.
However, the Jets should not grant his request. There is no reason to. They have all the leverage, as he is under contract with them. They can and should try to negotiate a contract extension, but if he plays hardball, they should not cave.
There is no reason to let a player go simply because he’s upset the team is losing. A free agent can choose what team he wants to play for. Wilson is not a free agent. Period.
What the Jets need, and not just for Wilson’s benefit, is a coach who can get the team under control. Wilson, like Sauce Gardner and many of the Jets’ other players, has gotten accustomed to telling the whole world when he’s angry and frustrated. There have been no consequences, so why shouldn’t they act like most Gen Zers?
The Jets’ 2022 draft class may have gotten drunk on their early career success, but they’ve never learned how to be professionals. Stop with the angsty social media posts, arguments with fans, and divisive body language. Start playing for the team, not for self-aggrandizement.
“Whatever the team needs to win” is not just a trite statement. It’s an attitude all NFL players must take. And it’s an attitude Wilson is lacking right now.
Diva wide receivers are a dime a dozen, and Wilson has rapidly descended into that category. Still, the Jets should not allow a temper tantrum to impede what is best for their team.
