Jets Must Prioritize Extending Sauce Gardner & Garrett Wilson

Ever since entering the league in 2022, Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson have become staples for the Jets organization and faces of the franchise.  Sauce has made a name for himself as a No.1 shutdown cornerback, with an all-pro skillset.  Garrett Wilson has shown consistency in the wide receiver position for the Jets, showing off elite potential that hasn’t fully been released yet.  

Sauce Gardner can be the Jets # 1 corner and that has great benefits for the Jets.  It gives the team confidence that they can contain a team’s No.1 wide receiver, as Sauce can travel with them.  Leaving it possible for the Jets to be as creative as they can be on defense in terms of defensive scheming, like blitzing or coverage assignments.  Aaron Glenn’s defense was big with man coverage, so Sauce will benefit more as he’ll be tasked with locking down a team’s No.1 wideout.  

Sauce has also contributed to being a positive impact and leader through the Jets locker room while also contributing off the field by helping communities, making a positive impact.  One thing that needs to be talked about more is Sauce’s commitment and loyalty to remaining a Jet, as he expressed countless times his love and desire to re-sign with the Jets.  He stated at the end of the season his desire to change the Jets culture, saying to reporters, “I want to be a part of the change in this organization”.  Commitment and loyalty are hard to come by in today’s NFL world, so hearing that from Sauce speaks volumes.

Garrett Wilson can easily be the Jets No.1 wideout when given the opportunity.  He’s shown that he can handle any workload and has great hands.  Wilson has one of the best hands in the league and has insane route running, where he runs routes perfectly to a crisp.  He’s shown flashes of his elite potential, but it’s been tough to unleash it due to the lack of stability at the QB position.  Having Justin Fields as the new QB1, a former college teammate of Wilson, brings hope and optimism that Fields can unleash Wilson’s potential.  

Like Sauce, Wilson has also expressed his desire to re-sign with the Jets.  Now that the NFL Draft has come and gone, it’s time Darren Mougy shifted his priorities to extending stars Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson sooner rather than later.    

Contract Expectations For Sauce Gardner

The contract situations between Sauce and Garrett differ from one another.  Sauce Gardner will most likely be paid the highest corner in the league, while Garrett will fight to command $30 million per year. 

Highest Paid CB’s

• Derek Stingley Jr. Avg./Year- $30,000,000
• Jayce Horn Avg./Year- $25,000,000
• Jalen Ramsey Avg./Year- $24,100,000
• Patrick Surtain II Avg./Year- $24,000,000
• Jarie Alexander Avg./Year- $21,000,000

In terms of Sauce, he will likely become the highest-paid corner in the league.  Derek Stingley Jr., who is also an elite corner and drafted in the same class as Sauce, got extended first, exceeding the market with $30 million a year.  Stingley became the first corner to receive more than $30 million per year on an extension, which benefited Sauce and the rest of the cornerback market.  

Locking up your No.1 corner in Sauce Gardner will benefit both Sauce and the Jets as they won’t have to worry about the cornerback position as much for years to come.  

Contract Expectations For Garrett Wilson

Highest Paid WR’s

• Ja’Marr Chase Avg/Year- $40,250,000
• Justin Jefferson Avg/Year- $35,000,000
• Ceedee Lamb Avg/Year- $34,000,000
• DK Metcalf Avg/Year- $32,999,882
• Amon-Ra St. Brown Avg/Year- $30,002,500

Now, with Garrett, his contract situation causes a lot of debate, not for his skill set, but in terms of his production over the past three years.  Garrett has publicly come out and said he wants to remain a Jet and hopes to get paid around $30 million per year.  When you look at the stats, they’re still great numbers all around, despite what he’s dealt with at the QB position, but people are skeptical about whether to give Garrett $30 million.  When you look at who the top WRs are, people will compare and argue why Garrett should be paid like the rest of them.

It would be wise to pay Garrett because he is the team’s true No. 1 WR.  He has served as a beacon for the Jets offense since entering the league in 2022 and has been nothing but humble.  His stats are decent enough, but he has the potential to put up elite numbers when the right quarterback is throwing to him.  So, paying him $30 million shouldn’t be a problem for the Jets, for all he’s been for the Jets organization and for the elite potential he’s capable of showing.  

If Garrett Wilson were on the trading block, almost half the league would inquire about his services due to what he’s showcased in his three years in the league and the potential he brings to an offense.  

Almost all of the Jets 2025 draft picks have signed their rookie deals. After that’s done, Darren Mougey should prioritize extension talks with Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson as soon as possible before the markets get higher.  So far, Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey have set the right tone in terms of the culture of at Florham Park, extending Sauce and Garrett will set the bar higher on how this current regime views their players.

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