For a team that currently has the longest playoff drought in any major American team sport, the New York Jets have a surprising number of players that stand to be paid among the highest at their respective positions.
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams is already halfway through a four-year deal he signed in July 2023 for $96 million, which was the highest total value for an interior lineman at the time.
Despite the fact that the Jets have averaged just five wins over the last nine seasons, they are now facing the added pressure that they will soon have to think about re-signing three former first-round draft picks from the class of 2022: wide receiver Garrett Wilson, cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
Wilson set career highs in 2024 with 101 catches for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. The only receivers with more catches than Wilson over the last three seasons are CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Tyreek Hill, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams. In other words, Wilson is in a high-rent district.
“Garrett Wilson, pound for pound, is as good as any wide receiver,” one rival scout told Athlon Sports. “He’s got great hands, routes and body control.”
Still, for a team that hasn’t won anything in a long time, handing out raises to multiple players won’t come easy.
“(Jets owner) Woody Johnson is going to have to write some big checks for Wilson, Jermaine Johnson and Sauce Gardner,” the scout said. “They deserve it, especially Sauce. He’s going to beat the Derek Stingley Jr. deal.”
The scout’s comments were made as part of the exclusive Jets scouting report in the Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview magazine, available online and at newsstands now.
Stingley, who was drafted by the Houston Texans with the third overall pick in 2022 — one pick ahead of Gardner — signed a three-year, $90 million deal this offseason that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
Johnson earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 when he notched 7.5 sacks for the Jets. He suffered a season-ending Achilles injury n Week 2 of last season, but he’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season and be a big part of the Jets’ defense.
