Potential Steelers trade for Jets' Garrett Wilson 'not happening' despite Aaron Rodgers connection

While New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson insisted ahead of this past weekend that he wants to stay put through the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, he offered those comments before the Jets fell to 2-6 on what seems to be yet another lost season for the organization. 

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been mentioned as a landing spot for multiple receivers who could be traded before Nov. 10. During the latest edition of his podcast, NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN gave Steelers fans who want the team to acquire Wilson some bad news. 

"No way" Jets will trade Garrett Wilson this week

"We brought up the name Garrett Wilson," Schefter said, per Troy Montgomery of Steelers Depot. "I was told last week, 'No way [the Jets] trade him.'"

Back in the summer of 2025, Wilson signed a four-year, $130M contract extension. While history shows that deal wouldn't necessarily prevent Jets general manager Darren Mougey from accepting a package of draft assets for the 26-year-old's services this fall, SNY's Connor Hughes is among those who have said that New York has told interested teams that Wilson "is not available."

One big reason Garrett Wilson isn't an option for the Steelers

The fact that Wilson and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers were teammates during the 2023 and 2024 seasons understandably caused some to wonder whether Rodgers could once again want to throw passes to Wilson during games this fall. However, those two reportedly "never saw eye-to-eye" during their final campaign together. 

"I love these people that bring up Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson," Schefter added. "I don't think people know that full relationship there. I don't know that that would work. That's not happening. Garrett Wilson's not being traded to Pittsburgh."

Schefter's update would lead one to assume that he has reason to believe neither Wilson nor Rodgers wants to resume that working relationship amid what is expected to be the final season of Rodgers' playing career. 

Besides, waiting until the offseason to trade Wilson would likely be the wiser business decision for the Jets, as it pertains to what New York would get in return, if Mougey were to consider making such a trade before the 2027 NFL Draft gets underway.