The New York Jets are operating the 2025-26 NFL season with contract extensions looming for their star players, Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner.
Both were selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. In their first season, they made an immediate impact as Wilson won Offensive Rookie of the Year and Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year. Additionally, Gardner was named First Team All-Pro in his first two seasons.
The Jets exercised the fifth-year option for both Wilson and Gardner, meaning they have another two years before the pair are eligible to test free agency. However, dialogue about extensions for both players will be constant throughout the season. Both Wilson and Gardner have expressed interest in remaining with the Jets for the foreseeable future, though that may change during negotiations.
Sauce wants to be a Jet for life 💯 pic.twitter.com/nzLVopARf8
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 2, 2024
This isn’t the first time the Jets have been in negotiations with star players. These negotiations have been filled with holdouts, trades and underperforming. While the Jets have undergone a vast number of changes since these negotiations, it is worth a look back to see how they’ve previously went about similar situations.
The Darrelle Revis Holdout
In 2010, New York Jets legend and Hall of Fame inductee Darrelle Revis was in an intense standoff with the organization.
Revis was coming off of an all-time great cornerback season, where he held future Hall of Famers under 35 yards receiving. Wideouts like Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne and Chad Ochocinco were blanketed by Revis, and took a trip to the notorious Revis Island.
24 days until the NFL returns 🏈
Where does Darrelle Revis' 2009 season rank among the best individual seasons of all-time? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/UrhjD8PTMT
— Fanatics Sportsbook (@FanaticsBook) August 12, 2024
With three years remaining on his rookie contract, Revis wanted a new deal. He was playing at a high level and wanted to become the highest paid cornerback in the NFL, surpassing Nnamdi Asomugha’s contract three-year, $45.3 million deal with the Raiders. In a bold move, Revis held out from participating with the team due to his displeasure with his current salary. His holdout would last for 35 days, missing the entirety of training camp.
On day 36, the Jets and Revis agreed to terms on a new contract. Revis would be given $46 million over the course of four years, with $32 million guaranteed. Revis returned just before the team’s week one matchup with Baltimore.
The holdout was hugely successful for Revis and would inspire players in the future to take similar action for their contracts. In terms of how it worked out for the Jets, Revis was traded in 2013 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the Jets had changes in their regime. Revis would later return in 2015, and when he retired in 2018, he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Jet.
The Fall of Fitz-Magic
In 2015, the Jets led by Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had their most recent winning season. Fitzpatrick threw for 31 touchdowns, the most in Jets franchise history. They finished the season with a 10-6 record. And yet, they missed the playoffs after losing week 17 in Buffalo.
After the heartbreaking end to the season, Fitzpatrick was a free agent. After setting career high marks across the board in the passing game, Fitzpatrick wanted to return to the Jets. On the other side, the Jets also wanted Fitzpatrick to return. What followed wasn’t a contract, but instead a standoff between the two parties.
The Jets offered Fitzpatrick a three-year, $24 million contract with $16 million guaranteed that Fitzpatrick didn’t accept. Fitzpatrick wanted to be paid similarly to Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford at $15 million per year. Jets star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who had his second-best yardage total in his career and the most touchdowns of his career with Fitzpatrick at the helm, missed OTA’s alongside fellow receiver Eric Decker. Marshall wouldn’t confirm or deny if his absence was related to Fitzpatrick at the time, but years later revealed the absence of both receivers was indeed related to Fitzpatrick’s contract dispute.
Fitzpatrick and the Jets remained apart on a deal for months, leading up to training camp, when the Jets gave Fitzpatrick one last offer. If he refused, they would look for a new quarterback. Fitzpatrick accepted the new deal, a 1-year, $12 million contract. Marshall was happy, Fitzpatrick was happy, and the team looked to replicate the success they had the year prior.
Unfortunately for the Jets, Fitzpatrick regressed heavily in 2016. Fitzpatrick threw significantly less touchdowns, going from 31 the previous year to 12. He threw for only 2,710 yards, a far cry from his career high the year prior. He added 17 interceptions as well, and the Jets finished the season 5-11. After the drawn-out negotiations the year prior, the Jets didn’t resign Fitzpatrick the following offseason.
Jamal Adams Saga
In 2017, the Jets drafted safety Jamal Adams sixth overall in the NFL draft. During his tenure with the Jets, he was a defensive standout. He was a two-time pro-bowler and a First Team All-Pro.
In 2018, Adams pitched for the Jets to acquire more “dogs” on their roster. Adams seemingly got his wish, as the Jets signed Le’Veon Bell in the offseason. Bell later stated Adams was actively recruiting him, and was part of the reason Bell came to the Jets.
Le’Veon Bell says Jamal Adams did everything to recruit him. Was constantly reaching out by texting, calling, Instagram and Twitter. “He made it happen.” #Jets
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 14, 2019
After a 7-9 season in 2019, Adams was frustrated. He was tired of losing and also wanted a contract extension. Adams would be vocal about this desire online, and even suggested it was time to move on. With fans concerned, Bell, who Adams courted to the Jets the year prior reached out to talk to Adams. After talking, Bell believed that Adams wanted to stay, he just wanted a contract extension.
Adams would not stay with the Jets, however. He was traded to the Seahawks, in the package was notably two first round picks. Bell would express frustration online about Adams leaving, though he himself would leave the team as he was cut in week six. While they didn’t resign Adams, the Jets were set up nicely from his trade, as with the two first round picks they acquired in the trade they selected current right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and receiver Garrett Wilson.
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