Jets’ big-money extensions put another former first-rounder on the clock

Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson already cashed in. Now it’s Jermaine Johnson's turn. General manager Darren Mougey has already expressed a willingness to spend what is needed in order to ensure Jets greats stay in green and white for longer.

But Gang Green still has yet to engage in negotiations with Johnson, their third first-rounder from the 2022 class. The Jets picked up his fifth-year option, meaning he is under contract through 2026.

Formal contract talks have yet to be initiated, however, and there isn’t much urgency to ink a new deal at this moment.

The Jets will use the 2025 season to evaluate Jermaine Johnson's future

That's because the roadblock in contract negotiations is that the Florida State product missed the majority of last season after tearing his Achilles.

The 26-year-old was finally living up to the first-round hype before everything came to a screeching halt. Johnson broke out in 2023, notching a career-high 7.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in his sophomore campaign en route to being selected for his first Pro Bowl.

Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles in Week 2 of 2024, missing the remainder of the season in the process, but things are trending in the right direction regarding his recovery.

Head coach Aaron Glenn has said that the expectation is that Johnson will be ready for Week 1. The Jets placed Johnson on the Active/PUP list to start training camp, but the belief is that he should be on the field for the start of the regular season in September.

With that being said, it's unlikely that Johnson and the Jets brass will engage in extension talks before the season ends. Truthfully, this is the smart play for both sides.

For New York, it’s a wait-and-see approach, as they want to see how Johnson rebounds from the injury before committing long-term. Meanwhile, Johnson has an opportunity to boost his market value with a strong year.

If Johnson returns to his pre-injury form, he will be able to cement his status as a rising star in Steve Wilks’ defensive scheme and position himself for a lucrative payday, though likely not in the same financial tier as his fellow 2022 draftees Gardner and Wilson.

The 2025 season will be pivotal for Johnson's future in New York, especially as he looks to prove he belongs among the Jets’ long-term core alongside his draft-mates.

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