Garrett Wilson excited for ‘new version’ of Jets after $130M contract

Garrett Wilson now has the green in his bank account to match the green in his blood.

In his first comments since agreeing Monday to a four-year, $130 million extension with the Jets that makes him the fifth-highest-paid receiver in the NFL, Wilson expressed his gratitude for a secure future while acknowledging the bumpy road to this point.

“Yup, Jets green has been running through me since the day they drafted me,” Wilson wrote on X. “Despite the ups and downs, the faith is mutual… that means the world to me. Excited to start a new version of the chase next week.”

Wilson has put up three straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career despite a revolving door of quarterbacks and a 19-32 record.

As last season ended, speculation grew that a frustrated Wilson could seek a trade. He often deflected questions about his future.

But a lot changed when the Jets hired a new regime of GM Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, and then replaced Aaron Rodgers with Wilson’s former Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Wilson expressed in May a desire to be a “Jet for life.”

The new extension keeps Wilson under team control through 2030 and sets him up for another big pay day while still in his prime.

“I’m excited as hell. This is just the beginning of something new,” he told NFL reporter Josina Anderson. “It gives me such a relief to be full-go, clear-minded and not have to worry about finances. You never want to have that weighing on your head.

“So I’m so thankful and blessed just to have this whole staff believe in me, even after winning like 20 games since I’ve been here says a lot. So, I just want to focus on my team, build chemistry and play for something. You know that about me. Football is a big part of me. There’s so much work to do; nothing has been accomplished yet. So, I’m telling you my whole mindset is only on looking forward now, taking care of business and doing what I’m supposed to do with no distractions. That’s all I want to do.”

The Jets report to training camp next week and could have cornerback Sauce Gardner’s extension negotiations looming over practices. Gardner and Wilson have been tied at the hip as foundational pieces since they were both top-10 draft picks in 2022.