Analyst Whiffs on Potential Garrett Wilson Extension

Part of why there was so much optimism about the New York Jets' potential Super Bowl window with quarterback Aaron Rodgers was the young talent around him. With receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall on rookie contracts, the Jets could afford Rodgers and roll the dice on a handful of veterans.

On paper, it was promising. In reality, it was disastrous. And beyond wasting everyone’s time, New York lost crucial seasons of bright, cost-controlled stars.

Soon enough, corner Sauce Gardner and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson will join Wilson in wanting to get paid. As evidenced by the accepting of their fifth-year options, general manager Darren Mougey is happy to at least entertain the idea.

However, not everyone agrees on what Wilson will be getting paid after the 2026 season (or before it, if an extension comes to fruition).

The Jets receiver received a shocking bad contract prediction from quarterback-turned-analyst Kurt Benkert.

"I think that Garrett Wilson could very easily get a four-year, $96 million contract," Benkert said. "I could see him getting over $100 million. But I think this is a place where the Jets could get comfortable with him."

Wilson’s fifth-year option will cost New York $16.8 million, per Over the Cap. With a consistently increasing cap, player salaries are bound to follow suit, and recent receiver deals suggest Wilson won’t settle for an eight-figure deal.

"He was the Rookie of the Year in 2022. He's had about a thousand yards a year... I do think that he's in that realm with the Brandon Aiyuks of the world, and I think he's probably going to get paid like how Nico Collins got paid, even though I think Nico is a better player today."

A four-year, $96 million deal would rank ninth at the position in terms of total value and 14th in average annual value. Aiyuk, who had a lesser start to his career but found second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, received $30 million per year. Collins, a one-year breakout (who has since made good on his extension) got $24.25 million per year.

Expecting Wilson, who has dealt with worse quarterback play than Brock Purdy and C.J. Stroud for the duration of his career and still put up 3,429 yards through three seasons, to fall below those marks is ambitious.

Opinions can vary on Wilson. Maybe he is less complete of a receiver than Jets fans would admit and closer to the 20th best receiver in the league than the 10th. But Wilson has an agent, and that agent would like to keep his job. Accepting a low-ball equivalent to the franchise tag isn’t going to make that happen.

For better or worse, Wilson is going to get paid, and it’s very likely going to surpass the mark Benkert set for him.