Garrett Wilson, Jets agree to four-year, $130 million contract extension, source confirms
Garrett Wilson of the Jets celebrates his third-quarter touchdown against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 31, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Jets locked up one of their young franchise cornerstones, reaching an agreement on a four-year contract extension with receiver Garrett Wilson, a league source confirmed Monday.
Wilson will sign a deal for $130 million, with $90 million guaranteed. It’s a significant investment for the organization and shows how valuable the dynamic Wilson is for the present and future of this franchise.
The Jets made Wilson, who turns 25 next week, the fifth-highest paid receiver in average salary ($32.5 million per season), behind Ja’Marr Chase (the highest at $40.25M), Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and DK Metcalf. This new deal also keeps Wilson under contract until 2030. He still has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
"Yup, Jets green has been running through me since the day they drafted me," Wilson wrote on X on Tuesday morning. "Despite the ups and downs, the faith is mutual… that means the world to me. Excited to start a new version of the chase next week."
New Jets general manager Darren Mougey and first-year coach Aaron Glenn have said they want to keep good players in a Jets’ uniform. They accomplished that with Wilson a little more than a week before players report for training camp.
They will now turn their attention to cornerback Sauce Gardner, who is also eligible for an extension. Gardner was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft. Wilson was taken 10th in the same draft. Gardner was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and Wilson the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
It would be surprising if something does not get done with Gardner, a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback. Gardner also has made it clear that he wants to be a Jet for the long term and sounded confident that an agreement would be reached.
“I want to win,” Gardner said last month. “I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.”
Gardner added, “My team and the Jets have been talking. I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going.”
Wilson is the first Jets’ first-round pick to receive a contract extension after only three years with the team. In those three years, Wilson has been the Jets’ most productive offensive player.
He has caught 279 passes for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns while playing every game. He’s only the second Jet in franchise history to record three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, joining George Sauer.
Making it more impressive is Wilson has caught passes from seven different quarterbacks in that time: Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle and Chris Streveler.
Wilson’s future as a Jet appeared cloudy last season as rumors surfaced that he might request a trade, particularly if Rodgers returned.
An emotional player, Wilson does not handle losing well and often displays his frustration. It’s led to some sideline exchanges and postgame comments that raised eyebrows and alarms among the Jets’ fan base.
Wilson has said he needs to tone it down. He also sounded very excited about the upcoming season when he spoke to reporters during an offseason workout.
The Jets are under new leadership and have a new quarterback, Wilson’s former Ohio State teammate Justin Fields.
Glenn said the Jets want to “give [Wilson] the ball as much as possible.” New offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said he’s on board with that. Wilson liked hearing that and also is happy to reunite with Fields and show what they can do together.
“It’s someone that I’m familiar with, someone that I have a great relationship with, someone that I love just watching him play,” Wilson said. “Since I met Justin, it’s been a pleasure to line up alongside of him. And then when I’m on the sideline, I just got to watch him . . .
“I didn’t think we’d get this opportunity on this level, so it’s exciting. I’m still taking it in all the way. It’s cool, it’s cool. We’ve been picking up where we left off.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
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