How Garrett Wilson stacks up to Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

How Jets rookie Garrett Wilson stacks up to star WRs Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase

By Nathaniel Griffee | Last updated 9/20/22

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, the 10th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is off to an impressive NFL start. His own teammates have compared him to Minnesota third-year wideout Justin Jefferson, an "elite tier" receiver, per Pro Football Focus.

It's a small sample size, but Wilson's numbers top Jefferson's rookie year numbers after two games. Wilson has 12 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson had five catches for 70 yards en route to a then-NFL rookie record for receiving yards (1,400) in 2020.

Wilson's numbers are comparable to those of the Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase, who had seven receptions for 155 yards and two TD catches after two games last season. The Bengals star went on to beat Jefferson's NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie with 1,455.

Wilson hasn't set any NFL records yet, but his breakout performance against the Browns on Sunday set a team mark, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

A note on Garrett Wilson: the 1st Jets rookie ever with 100 receiving yds and multiple receiving TDs in a game. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 19, 2022

Whether Wilson will continue to put up major numbers is an open question. Backup quarterback Joe Flacco has missed connecting with an open Wilson several times, a fact that drives the Twitterverse bonkers:

Here are FOUR missed TDs to Garrett Wilson on Sunday. 4!!

He was open 24/7 #Jets

And here’s my full All-22 breakdown:
: https://t.co/VV9IU1Kgdq pic.twitter.com/yK6xRlPlH6
— Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) September 18, 2022

This was an incompletion... but a great design featuring rookie WR Garrett Wilson

Wilson #3 trips... with LB over him (feels like zone, and they get zone post snap). Wilson runs a little stutter/seam and Flacco juuuuust misses him

Great concept to get him working vs LB! pic.twitter.com/4i26ON0qCC
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) September 19, 2022

If injured starter Zach Wilson establishes a strong connection with Garrett Wilson when he returns in Week 4, the rookie could join Chase and Jefferson as an NFL record-setter.

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