Which NY Jets players deserve contract extensions next?

Two weeks ago, in the span of 48 hours, the New York Jets extended two of their best players on the roster. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson each saw four-year contracts that made them among the highest-paid players at their positions.

What happens next?

While New York may push to focus on the 2025 regular season, there are other players on the roster who are in need of extensions as well, either during the season or afterward.

Today, we break down those players and see which ones New York should consider as pillars for the future, or those whose time may be running out regardless of what happens.

Ranking Jets’ Extension Candidates

For this exercise, we’ve split some of the viable candidates into three tiers. A “no-brainer” tier breaks down players who, when eligible, will need extensions immediately. The “at the right price” tier is focused on players not being overpaid, and the “not a chance” tier is filled with players New York should allow to hit the open market.

Without further ado, let’s break down the list.

No Brainers

Alijah Vera-Tucker

This really isn’t much of a debate. Vera-Tucker is the best offensive lineman on the Jets and is a free agent after the 2025 season. Either New York will sign him to a fair deal that makes him one of the highest-paid players at his position, or he hits the open market and resets the contracts for guards moving forward.

If New York is smart, AVT is the first player that gets a new deal.

Will McDonald

There was a point where Jets fans wanted to run McDonald out of town as a first-round pick who produced little during his first season with the team.

Those concerns are now completely unfounded.

McDonald is not just New York’s best edge rusher, but he may end up with a Pro Bowl caliber season if the results in camp can be duplicated during the regular season. He’s a player that the Jets need to keep around for a long time. Teams get what they pay for with edge rushers, and that’s why McDonald will need to be paid when he becomes eligible for an extension in 2026.

Joe Tippmann

Position battle or not, Tippmann is the best center on the Jets’ roster. He was a top-10 player at his position last year and will be deserving of that kind of money if/when he beats out Josh Myers in camp.

Tippmann is completing his third season in the league, and like McDonald, will be eligible for an extension during the 2026 offseason. New York should see what they have in him, of course, but also know they need to extend him during the offseason.

At Right Price

Quincy Williams

As painful as this may be for Jets fans, the organization probably won’t pay two linebackers over $10 million per year. That leaves Williams the odd man out in this scenario.

Would he be willing to take under that total if it means he can keep playing with his brother? Maybe. But that’s a far-fetched idea at the very least. As things stand, though, it just seems like the linebacker is entering the final year of his time with New York.

Andre Cisco

Through the first two weeks of camp, Cisco has been the best safety on the Jets roster and it hasn’t been close. New York needs to figure out fair financials for him, but he should be a player the team tries to keep around in the future.

Jermaine Johnson

A lot of what Johnson’s contract could look like will hinge on how he recovers from his torn Achilles last season. If the Florida State edge rusher comes back with reasonable numbers, he’ll be in line for a solid payday. Anything less, and the Jets may be hesitant to pay a player with an injury history now attached to him.

John Simpson

Teams around the league have no issue paying top money for two guards (and a center). The offensive line is one of the most important groups on the field to invest in.

For Simpson, though, the money has to match his value. He isn’t quite worthy of being among the richest players at the position, and the Jets should not give him the money just because he may make that on the open market.

If they can agree on a fair price, though, this extension would make a lot of sense.

Not a Chance

Breece Hall

As much as there is a brigade to try and defend Hall, the running back has dealt with several injuries and is coming off a bad year in 2024. The Iowa State star could very well bounce back with a huge season in 2025, but that doesn’t mean the Jets should sign him to an extension.

Good teams pay running backs when the rest of their roster (including quarterback) is secure, not before. New York needs to be willing to move past their former second-round pick after this season.

Tony Adams

Adams is a serviceable player. Is he good enough to get a long-term extension on a defense that just drafted a safety, and seems thrilled with how one of their other pickups looked? Absolutely not. He’s the odd man out; if not this year, then next.

Jeremy Ruckert

Ruckert is in a similar boat to Adams, but with even less production. The former third-round tight end seems on the cusp of losing his starting job to a second-round rookie. That isn’t a great sign that the team has high hopes for him after the 2025 season.