New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson were two of the players pushing hard for the trade to acquire Aaron Rodgers. Just a few weeks into his arrival, one of the NFL Top 100 players believes could now be teaming up with two of the best players in his career.
Rodgers has been present at the Jets’ offseason activities, helping them prepare for the upcoming 2023 NFL season. After recovering from a calf injury, the four-time NFL MVP quarterback has returned to the practice field and is quickly building rapport with his new teammates.
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While Rodgers’ focus right now is on settling into a new environment and getting to know the players around him, Wilson and Gardner are already making strong impressions on the future Hall of Famer.
- Garrett Wilson stats (2022): 83 receptions, 1,103 receiving yards, 56 first downs
Rodgers told the New York Post that after practicing with Wilson and Gardner for just a few weeks, he believes they can be two of the best players in the NFL very soon.
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“We’ve got, at some point possibly, the best corner and the best receiver in the NFL. It’s a legit possibility for those two guys. Maybe not this upcoming year — I still think Davante [Adams] is in a league of his own — but those two kids are so talented.”
Aaron Rodgers on New York Jets teammates Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner
Rodgers has played with his share of elite talents in his career. At wide receiver, Davante Adams, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson have been some of his favorite pass-catchers ever. In his early work with Wilson, he sees the same ability to make unbelievable plays.
“At least one time a practice he does something that I kind of look back at [the coaches] and whoever is watching and go, ‘Wow!’”
Aaron Rodgers on what New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has shown in practice
The practices are also important to New York for another reason. With some of the best players in the NFL on both sides of the ball, the competition is helping everyone improve. Wilson is competing against an All-Pro cornerback last season, while Gardner is learning how to improve when facing a Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
All of it bodes well for the Jets’ Super Bowl chances this season. If Rodgers’ assessment of his teammates is proven right, New York will have an outstanding foundation to build around for years to come.