The Jets’ top wide receiver is here to stay.
Garrett Wilson and New York agreed to a four-year, $130 million extension Monday, July 14 which makes him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL.
The No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Wilson is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He’s been metronomically consistent since entering the league and winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He’s had at least 1,000 yards every year and posted a career-best 101 catches and seven touchdowns last season.
Wilson was one of six wide receivers selected in the first round of 2022 NFL Draft. He ranks first in career catches and receiving yards.
With this deal, the former Ohio State standout is the first New York Jets first-round pick to sign a second contract with the team since 2019 first-rounder Quinnen Williams.
That move secures Wilson’s services through the 2030 NFL season and will make him the fifth-highest paid wide receiver in the league by average annual value (AAV), per OverTheCap.
The deal leaves some winners and losers in its wake. Here’s our picks for each one:
WINNERS
Garrett Wilson
Wilson still had two years left on his rookie deal after the franchise picked up his fifth-year option. This deal takes his compensation up a few notches as he becomes one of the top-paid players at his position a week before he turns 25.
He’s shown an ability to produce well despite mixed to below-average quarterback play. Now, he’ll be compensated well for doing so.
Sauce Gardner
New York has a new regime in general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn. By signing Wilson to this deal, they’ve shown a willingness to pay top talent on the roster that they did not draft.
Gardner, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, should be one of the top-paid cornerbacks in the league on his new extension. His ranking at his position is better than Wilson’s at wide receiver and that should pay off for him during negotiations.
Drake London
London went two picks earlier than Wilson in the same draft and he’s the only one who’s produced near his level. London’s the only other player in that draft class to surpass 3,000 career receiving yards and has 15 touchdowns, tied with Romeo Doubs for most in the class.
London has plenty of leverage now that one of his contemporaries has signed a long-term deal. If Wilson can be a top-five highest-paid wide receiver, London and his representatives can easily make the argument he deserves something at least as good.
Tanner Engstrand
Taking over play-calling for the first time with a new team is a lot for a young offensive coordinator. Engstrand’s got a lot more responsibility on his plate in 2025 than 2024 but having a proven, reliable wide receiver certainly makes things easier.
Next order of business to help Engstrand even more: signing Round 2 pick Mason Taylor.
Terry McLaurin
McLaurin took off for a career-best 13 touchdowns in 2024 thanks to Jayden Daniels’ arrival. He’s been in talks for an extension with the Commanders already this offseason. Getting a similar deal to Wilson’s may be a stretch given his age (30 in September) but McLaurin could get a small bump thanks to Wilson’s big deal.
LOSERS
Atlanta Falcons
As stated earlier, London’s the only receiver from that class with a similar amount of consistency and production to Wilson. He’s arguably a more valuable piece to the Falcons’ offense than Wilson is to the Jets’ unit, meaning he’ll command a higher price.
Chris Olave, Jahan Dotson and Treylon Burks
This could’ve been all of the other first-round wide receivers after Wilson but Jameson Williams is on an upward trajectory after a solid 2024 campaign.
Olave, Wilson’s teammate at Ohio State, is productive when on the field but availability’s been an issue with multiple concussions. Dotson lasted two seasons in Washington before being traded to Philadelphia. Burks is entering year four of his career but still has just one career receiving touchdown.
Wilson’s contract highlights his reliability and production, something the rest of the first-rounders after him have struggled with.
San Francisco 49ers
The news of Wilson’s deal came just hours after news of 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings wanting a new deal ahead of training camp. Jennings won’t get a deal close to Wilson’s but, like with McLaurin, the average salary for a starting wide receiver just ticked up a bit thanks to the deal.
New York Giants
The Giants were the only team in the 2022 NFL Draft with multiple top-10 picks and didn’t make the most of it. No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux took a step back in 2024 and No. 7 overall pick Evan Neal flamed out at tackle and is set to be a backup guard in 2025.
There’s no certainty that the timelines would still align with these changes but Giants fans are surely wondering what life could’ve been like had general manager Joe Schoen and company picked Wilson instead of Neal at No. 7. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart could be entering a situation with Wilson and 2024 first-rounder Malik Nabers had things gone a little differently.