The New England Patriots face the New York Jets on Thursday night.
The Jets have an explosive offense that the Patriots have lacked. In particular, they need production at the wide receiver position, and Jets star receiver Garrett Wilson makes the most sense as a “gimme him” player this week.
Wilson made a name for himself as a top-notch wide receiver after being drafted by Ohio State in 2022. In his career, he has caught 188 passes for 2,262 yards and seven touchdowns. He is having a successful 2024 season so far, as he has recorded 10 catches for 117 yards.
The 24-year-old receiver would give the Patriots offense the ability to stretch the field and have a dynamic playmaker who can make an impact after the catch. That ability to be a dynamic playmaker, especially from the outside, is something the Patriots currently do not have on their roster.
Take last year, for example, when Wilson averaged 10.97 yards per pass catch. This outstanding performance came as the Jets were trying to find stability at the quarterback position due to Aaron Rodgers’ injury. Wilson also averaged 6.20 yards per attempt, according to statistics from Pro Football Reference.
New England is still struggling to produce at the wide receiver position as the organization continues to rebuild the offense. The offense has proven successful as a more run-oriented unit, but they lack the balance and ability to make big plays that a player like Wilson would give them. He would be a true No. 1 target and a weapon that the quarterbacks could rely on.
Wilson hasn’t even reached his peak yet and already shows signs of having the potential to be one of the league’s best receivers. That mix of youth and top-tier talent would be a key component in getting the Patriots back on track.
