The 2025 NFL season is finally upon us. The New York Jets will open the season on Sunday at home against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers have long been defined by their defense. While they may not be the Steel Curtain of the 1970s, they still have plenty of talent. Led by 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, their defensive line was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the NFL’s best entering 2025.

While the Steelers’ defensive line will push the Jets’ rebuilt offensive line, our focus today is on the perimeter.

The Steelers revamped their secondary in 2025, adding three new starters. Most notably, they signed cornerback Darius Slay and traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The two veterans are still above-average cornerbacks in the NFL, but they’ve started to show signs of age.

Despite the name recognition, the Jets should go after Ramsey. The Jets got to know Ramsey during his two years with the Miami Dolphins. For the most part, Garrett Wilson had his way with the now-30-year-old corner.

Garrett Wilson thrived against Jalen Ramsey in 2024

Ramsey has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL since the day he was drafted in 2016. He’s still one of the more impactful cornerbacks in the league, but with his 31st birthday approaching in October, he has been inconsistent in recent years.

In 2024, Wilson showed he may be too explosive for the veteran defender.

The Jets played the Dolphins in Weeks 14 and 18 of the 2024 season. In those matchups, Wilson put up the following numbers when matched up against Jalen Ramsey:

  • 9 targets
  • 7 receptions
  • 137 yards
  • 58 yards after catch
  • 6 first downs
  • 1 defensive pass interference penalty (9 yards)
  • 1 pass breakup

While Wilson didn’t find the end zone, he excelled in his matchups against Ramsey. Overall, Wilson had 11 receptions and 165 yards across the two games against Miami. The 82.5 yards per game is a noticeable step up from his 63.7 career average.

Meanwhile, Ramsey did not only struggle with Wilson when he faced the Jets. Across the two matchups, Ramsey allowed overall averages of 98.5 yards per game, 8.8 yards after catch per reception, and a 77% completion percentage.

Numbers can lie, but the film backs up that Wilson was consistently creating separation against Ramsey.

Film Room

Wilson beats Ramsey with his release. He freezes Ramsey with a stutter right before cutting back left and upfield. Wilson catches the ball 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage and takes it another 25 after the catch.

Wilson had another great rep against Ramsey later in the third quarter. At the top of the screen, Wilson runs a deep out-and-up and creates over 10 yards of separation. Ramsey bites hard on the fake out and falls as he tries to redirect himself upfield, leaving Wilson wide open. Wilson makes the toe-tapping catch for a big play, but with a better throw, this could have been a touchdown.

In the two plays above, Wilson displays an excellent release and good route running to create separation against Ramsey. While his separation came at different parts of the play, Wilson won both matchups for the same reason: He’s too quick for Ramsey. The next two plays make that even clearer.

Wilson sells vertical and gives a push-off to create separation. He mirrors Aaron Rodgers as he extends the play, and makes himself available for the sideline catch to move the chains.

In Week 18, Wilson displayed why he has forced the second-most missed tackles (66) among wide receivers since he was drafted.

Wilson starts off-screen on the left, and the Jets run a variation of the slant-flat concept with Davante Adams and Tyler Conklin to scheme him open. Due to the good play design, Wilson only needs to make Ramsey miss, and he does just that. Wilson leaves him grasping for his jersey and picks up another 20 yards after the catch.

Garrett Wilson will continue to be the engine of the Jets’ passing offense

Since being drafted, Wilson accounts for 30% of the Jets’ receiving yards. Over that time, he’s aligned on the left side of the field on more than half (57.2%) of his snaps. Conveniently, Ramsey has played most of his snaps on the right side (the same side as Wilson) the last few years.

Meanwhile, Slay has typically manned the left side. This will leave Wilson to draw his most desirable matchup for the majority of the game.

With the strength of the rest of the Steelers’ defense, the Jets need to find every advantage they can. Wilson versus Ramsey might not seem like a mismatch to many fans, but it certainly was in 2024, and the Jets must capitalize on it again.

The Jets have consistently stated they want their run game to lead the team. While they should have the talent to do so, the NFL is a complementary game. Fields is a dynamic rusher, but his passing has typically left something to be desired. New York must be strategic with its game plan to unlock Fields’ passing.

Back together with his former college teammate, Fields and Wilson should be an electric combination. They are set up to reignite that combination on Sunday by attacking Ramsey.