The New York Jets have identified a pair of pilots they want to fly into the future with.
Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner were both selected by New York in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft to be key pieces for the Jets. The pair have answered the call, living up to the hype as top-10 picks. Now the bill is coming due for new contracts and discussions have begun, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
‘I’m told they’ve had some preliminary talks, exchange of numbers, had all that fun stuff as far as new deals,’ Fowler said in an appearance on ‘SportsCenter’ on Saturday morning. ‘They’ve got five-to-six weeks to see if they can come to an agreement before training camp.’
Gardner, who was the fourth overall pick, and Wilson, who was the 10th overall pick, both reported to the team’s offseason activities, avoiding an absence that has become customary for many seeking contracts across the league. Instead, as Gardner indicated, it was important for him to be at minicamp.
‘Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show my coaches how much I’m bought into this now,’ Gardner told reporters on Thursday. ‘I want to win. I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.’
The 24-year-old cornerback revealed his camp was engaged in discussions with the Jets, but his focus was about the happenings on the field.
‘My main focus has been being the best football player I can be, but my team and the Jets have been talking and, you know, I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going,’ Gardner said.
A two-time All-Pro and the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Gardner added he didn’t want to talk about the numbers. Earlier this offseason, the Houston Texans awarded the cornerback selected one spot ahead of Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., with a three-year, $90 million deal – something that the Jets’ star could surpass to become the highest-paid at the position.
As for Wilson, the receiver market has exploded in recent years, especially after Ja’Marr Chase became the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback this offseason. It was unclear if the Ohio State product was looking to stick around in the green-and-white, given his cryptic comments and body language at times.
Now reunited with his college quarterback, Justin Fields, Wilson said in May that he hopes to be a ‘Jet for life.’
Both Wilson and Gardner had their fifth-year options picked up, meaning they have two years left on their contracts. Provided discussions don’t hit a snag, they’ll be sticking around a little longer.
Regardless, the duo has a chance to accomplish something that’s been rare in recent Jets’ history – receive a second contract with the team after being drafted in the first round.
Since the rookie wage scale was introduced in 2011, the Jets have made 17 first-round picks. Of the 15 players that reached extension eligibility, only two were signed – Williams and Muhammad Wilkerson.
Wilson and Gardner are hoping to be building blocks for the team with the longest playoff drought in the league. It appears they may be more than that for the Jets.
They might just be the foundation.
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