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Another blockbuster on the Jets’ beat.
As we got into yesterday, the top Jets insider, SNY’s Connor Hughes, reported that “multiple NFL sources believe [Mike Vrabel] is the coach the Jets covet the most.”
He didn’t have one source but “multiple.” How many is “multiple?” It’s unclear, but some might assign a specific number to that. A lot of reporters will use this word when talking about the number of sources related to a report, but would you ever say about a game, “Davante Adams caught multiple TD passes in the Jets win.” Probably not, you would use the specific number.
But that is neither here nor there, so let’s get to the second Jets blockbuster of the week.
On his podcast, ESPN reporter Rich Cimini said that “people in Garrett Wilson’s circle” believe “he will ask for a trade after the season.”
Wow, wow, wow.
In a year with so many huge Jets stories, including the head coach and GM getting fired, the play-caller getting demoted, and the owner trading for Adams, this has to be right up there on the huge Jets’ story meter.
Obviously, Wilson hasn’t been happy with all the losses. He’s made that clear, but as the old saying goes, “Follow the money.”
First of all, since October 15 when the Jets acquired Adams from the Raiders, Wilson has been playing opposite a star receiver who is making a lot more money than him this year.
Now Wilson knows he was in no position to ask for a new deal in the middle of this third year, but how could he be thrilled with the receiver playing opposite him making a lot more this season? He’s human.
But here is what could be the bigger issue with Wilson’s contract, people aren’t talking about and they should.
Most assume Wilson will get a monster deal after the season, but some organizations don’t like to re-up first-round players after three years, they prefer to do it after four. Remember, Minnesota superstar receiver Justin Jefferson got his $35 million-a-year deal after his fourth season.
If you recall, when safety Jamal Adams tried to get a new deal from the Jets after his third year, Joe Douglas wouldn’t do it, and this led to a scorched earth campaign by this player and agent, which eventually led to the safety being traded to Seattle.
In the middle of the imbroglio between Adams and the team in the spring of 2020, Yahoo’s Charles Robinson, who knows Douglas well, reported:
“What is clear is that the Jets are not interested in setting a sizable precedent by extending Adams after his third NFL season. As it stands, only Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey has signed a contract extension from the first round of the 2017 NFL draft class. That has been a significant headwind as Adams has sought an extension from the Jets, along with the reality that a multitude of defensive superstars from recent draft classes played through their fourth seasons before getting an extension, including Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Chicago Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack, who were both named to multiple All-Pro teams and each won Defensive Player of the Year honors before receiving new deals.”
Now Douglas is gone, but as we know, when it came to big financial decisions with the Jets, he was not operating on an island.
Let’s not forget, Woody Johnson, and his right-hand man, Ira Axselrad, a brilliant money manager and lawyer, are very involved in money decisions at 1 Jets Drive.
Wilson seeing Miami’s Jaylen Waddle and Philadelphia’s Devonta Smith getting extended after three years last off-season will certainly give his agent the impetus to go for a massive extension this off-season.
When it comes to giving new contracts to first-round picks coming out of their third season, they might be out of luck, unless the organization has changed their position since the Adams dispute.
And also, while the Jets would likely love to keep the dream team of Adams and Wilson at receiver, Adams is on the books for $35.64 million next season. $35 million per seems to be the going rate for top receivers now.
In a cap sport, it’s hard to see the Jets having two $35 million-a-year receivers on their roster.
But the big question is will Woody, Ira and the new GM change the organization position they took with Adams giving out a monster deal after three years to a first-round pick?
Stay tuned.
December 19, 2024
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