Wilson Extension A Welcome Precedent For Jets

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Different is good when it relates to the Jets, a franchise whose history is so rife with incompetence from repeating mistakes that it birthed a cliché known worldwide.

Per multiple reports, Gang Green extended wide receiver Garrett Wilson’s contract on Monday, the first time the team has done so for a player with only three years of experience. The beauty of the 4-year, $130 million agreement (with $90 million guaranteed), besides the precedent that will signal a new order to the locker room, is that it locks up the club’s top playmaker through the 2030 season—Wilson will receive bonuses during the final two years of his rookie deal before the extension kicks in.

Prior General Managers Mike Maccagnan and Joe Douglas dismissed the concept of early extensions as a matter of principle, not that they could boast a bevy of Draft picks who deserved such consideration. Defensive tackle Quinnen Willliams had to wait until just prior to his fifth-year option season before getting his second contract in 2023, which broke a streak of eight consecutive Jets first-round picks who never made it that far.

Wilson has exceeded 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three seasons, a franchise first. That he was able to accomplish the feat while reaching for throws from six different wayward arms--Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle, and Chris Streveler--during his first two seasons before dealing with Aaron Rodger’s overt affinity for friend Davante Adams in 2025 makes it even more impressive.

Though Justin Fields will definitely be a downgrade from Rodgers, he and Wilson had excellent chemistry during the two seasons they overlapped at Ohio State. Per The Sporting News, Fields threw for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns when targeting Wilson, with 22 receptions going for 20 or more yards. According to Jets X Factor, Fields has a historical tendency to fixate on his WR1. That might seem risky, but the numbers (better completion percentage and yards per attempt with fewer interceptions) support the decision-making. If healthy (he has played in all 51 games, knock on wood), Wilson is set up perfectly for another big year.

For those bemoaning the high price tag—Wilson’s $32.5 million AAV is the NFL’s fifth highest for his position and only three receivers earned more in guarantees under their current deals—for a player who never was honored with a Pro Bowl invite, understand that the cost of waiting could have easily been more prohibitive. We haven’t seen the annual salary cap hits, but the cap is only going up and other receivers around the league will undoubtedly be getting in line to surpass Wilson’s compensation as his new contract rolls forward.

In such an environment, securing your core as quickly and fairly as possible should be a priority. That’s how the league’s elite operates; the Jets, as we all know, are not in that group.

The assumption is that cornerback Sauce Gardner is the next man up on new Jets GM Darren Mougey’s offseason agenda. Drafted six slots ahead of Wilson at No. 4 overall, Gardner might be looking for more of a position resetting in his new deal. That could get complicated, because while it would be inaccurate to claim that he “doesn’t make plays”--40 pass breakups, per Pro-Football-Reference.com, are absolutely considered plays--inducing turnovers is more impactful to winning. Gardner’s measly three career interceptions will be used against him, as will his relative aversion to tackling.

However, reports indicate that both sides are working towards a resolution. That the Jets are on one of those sides is a welcome change.