Jets Exercise Fifth-Year Options on Trio of Players
The Jets exercised the fifth-year option on three 2022 first-round draft picks – cornerback Sauce Gardner, wide receiver Garrett Wilson and edge Jermaine Johnson.
In the Jets’ productive 2022 draft, Gardner was selected with the No. 4 overall pick, Wilson at No. 10 and Johnson at No. 26.
While Gardner and Wilson are also eligible for long-term contract extensions, Mougey said prior to last weekend’s draft that those discussions are an ongoing process.
“In terms of contracts and extensions on any players, I’ll always keep that in-house, and we’ll keep those dealings in those discussions in-house,” he said.
According to NBCSports.com, Gardner would receive a guaranteed base salary of $20.1 million in 2026, Wilson a guaranteed $16.8 million, and Johnson a guaranteed $13.4 million.
Drafted out of Cincinnati, Gardner quickly flashed as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks. He was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was selected as a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons. He’s recorded 40 PDs and 181 tackles in 48 career games.
“He’s big, he has long arms, he can run, he has the ability to deny the ball,” said HC Aaron Glenn of Gardner at the NFL Annual League Meeting in Palm Beach, FL. “He can play zone, he can play man, he can tackle, he can do it all. And to me at the end of the day as a corner that’s what you want to be, that’s what you want to represent.”
Gardner will pair with free agent signee Brandon Stephens (6-1, 215) on the outside next season. The Jets also drafted Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas in the third round.
Wilson, a star at Ohio State, was the Jets’ leader in receptions and receiving yards in the past three years while playing with several different quarterbacks. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2022, and contributed a career-high 101 receptions, 1,104 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns in the 2024 season. Next season, Wilson will catch balls from his former college QB at Ohio State – Justin Fields.
“Just get back on the same page as we were in college and of course communicate, make sure we are always on the same page when it comes to concepts and routes and what he’s doing in certain situations,” Fields said of reuniting with Wilson. “But yeah, I’m definitely excited to be back on the field with him for sure”.
In a draft day trade with Tennessee, the Jets moved back into the first round to select Johnson out of Florida State. He came into his own in the 2023 season when he logged 7.5 sacks and was named as a Pro Bowl alternate. His 2024 season was cut short when he sustained a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 game against the Titans.
“Jermaine’s been doing a really good job,” Glenn said of Johnson the NFL Meeting. “I’ve known him since he came out of college. We actually coached him in the Senior Bowl. I know exactly what he brings to the table. He is working his (butt) off to get to where he needs to be, and that player has a lot of confidence in who he is. We have a lot of confidence in him, so we’re looking forward to him getting back on the field
