Garrett Wilson Gets Bold NFL Comparison

Garrett Wilson entered the 2022 draft as the No. 1 wide receiver option in his class. Scouts praised his sudden releases against press coverage. Garrett Wilson separated with sharp breaks that created easy windows. Cornerbacks who pressed him paid with early separation. Zone defenders struggled to pass him off cleanly.

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky is one of the many pundits who agree with this take. And during Tuesday’s episode of Get Up, the former NFL quarterback gave Wilson a flattering comparison. National shows rarely agree on rookies this early. The segment sparked days of debate online.

Orlovsky believes the future first-round pick could have some All-Pro potential. Only two receivers earn first-team honors yearly. Voters favor veterans with signature moments.

“I think Garrett Wilson is going to be like the next Davante Adams,” he said.

Garrett Wilson 2022 Draft Profile

Wilson, who split targets with Chris Olave at Ohio State, notched 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns in his final season. The comp stuck because Garrett Wilson mirrors the Adams release package off the line. Preseason forecasts like 10 bold predictions for the 2022 NFL Draft rated this receiver group historic. His 4.38 speed scared corners into soft cushions. Offensive coordinators moved him across formations to hunt mismatches. College film showed advanced releases for a 21-year-old. Scouts docked only his contested-catch rate over the middle.

The Green Bay Packers selected Davante Adams with a second-round pick in the 2014 draft. Wilson is expected to come off the board somewhere in the early-to-mid first round. Green Bay found rare value outside round one. Day-two picks seldom start immediately.

In his final season with the Fresno State Bulldogs in 2013, Adams logged 1,719 yards and 24 touchdowns. Wilson, who split the pass catching game with fellow projected first-round pick Chris Olave, notched 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns this past season. Sharing targets suppressed both totals below their talent. NFL teams noticed the efficiency anyway.

Wilson will look to separate himself as the best NFL talent in a stacked wide receiver class, including names like Olave, Jameson Williams, Drake London and Treylon Burks — all projected first-round picks. London became Atlanta’s top target. Williams battled injuries early. Burks struggled for snaps. Olave produced steadily in New Orleans. Despite being selected in the second round, Adams has separated himself as the best wideout from his 2014 class that included Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Odell Beckham Jr., Brandin Cooks, Allen Robinson and Jarvis Landry. Five of those receivers made Pro Bowls within three years. The class ranks among the deepest ever at the position. Scouts still study that group for evaluation lessons.

Garrett Wilson Since Draft Night

The New York Jets drafted Garrett Wilson 10th overall in 2022 (see his Garrett Wilson profile). He won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year with 83 catches for 1,103 yards. No Jet had won the award before him. The trophy sits with franchise greats now. Despite constant quarterback changes, Garrett Wilson topped 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. His 2024 campaign brought 101 receptions and a reunion with Davante Adams in New York. Few receivers produce across such unstable quarterback play. He broke franchise rookie receiving records by midseason. Coaches trusted him on third downs from Week 1. Preseason games confirmed the practice hype quickly. Defensive backs praised his footwork after joint sessions. Training camp buzz started with one-handed grabs in August. Veterans praised his practice habits immediately.

Where would you like to see Wilson land for his rookie season? Jets fans got their answer quickly. MetLife crowds grew louder each home stand. Jersey sales reflected the excitement. Kids across New York copied his gloves and cleats within weeks of the exciting opening day kickoff celebration. Training camp buzz turned into September production. Coaches trusted him on third downs from Week 1.

What does the comparison mean today? Route craft translates across eras better than pure speed. Shades of Adams show up in red-zone fades and sideline toe-taps.

Re-grading the 2022 Receiver Class

London became Atlanta’s top target and produces steadily. Olave matched early expectations in New Orleans before injuries hit. Williams flashed elite speed but missed time. Burks never secured a steady role. Draft rooms split hairs between London size and polish at the top. Trades reshuffled several depth charts within two seasons. Patience separated good picks from great ones. Front offices now grade polish over raw traits.

How the Comparison Holds Up

Studying Adams film shaped his stem technique. Double moves at the top of routes create late separation. Sideline awareness turns contested throws into completions. Speed fades with age while technique compounds, and that framing favors long careers over early peaks. Film grinders still clip his releases for teaching reels. Young receivers copy the footwork every offseason. Training staffs build entire drill tapes around his releases. College programs invite him to speak at camps.

Fantasy Football Outlook

Target volume keeps his floor high in PPR formats. Quarterback upgrades would unlock weekly top-five finishes. Draft him as a stable WR2 with WR1 weeks built in. Bye weeks hurt less with target hogs on the roster. Stack him with his quarterback when the matchup favors shootouts. Home games in calm weather boost his ceiling further. Check wind reports before locking lineups.

All-Pro nods require top-two voting at the position. Few rookies enter that conversation, which made the preseason take so bold. Voters rarely reward rookies at stacked positions. His case broke the usual mold. Get Up debates draft prospects every spring, and former quarterbacks carry extra weight on receiver takes.