Garrett Wilson watched the New York Jets ship out stars Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner, who he was drafted six spots after in 2022, in a trade-deadline fire sale.
The wideout, and New York's most talented remaining player, said he was "shocked" by the trades, but doesn't get paid to make those decisions.
"I get paid to catch passes, block, help my teammates out, make plays, you know what I'm saying?" he said, via ESPN. "[The front office gets] paid to do that. I'm going to play football and I'm excited, man. I'm excited to go at this thing and chase it. They have a vision. Like I said, I don't get paid to have a vision. They do and they got one and I have to trust them, man. I do."
Jets coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey are the men paid to have a vision of what a winning football club should look like. Clearly, after a 1-7 start, they didn't see a path forward as they're currently constructed. The hope is that the future assets -- including three additional first-rounders over the next two years -- will give Gang Green a foundation to turn things around.
For Wilson, it was tough to watch his teammates leave, particularly Gardner. The duo was drafted together, won Offensive Player of the Year awards together, and signed new contract extensions a day apart this offseason. They're no longer joined at the hip.
"My emotions, like that side of it, I hate it, I hate it, you know what I'm saying?" Wilson said. "I play football. I play with my brothers. I get to know my brothers. I hate it, but I'm paid to play football. No one cares if I hate it. Go catch the ball. You know what I'm saying? That's how I see it."
Garrett hasn't caught a pass since Week 7, missing the past two games due to a knee injury. He's been limited in practice this week.
