Justin Fields justifies his entire Jets contract before ever playing a snap

Justin Fields might not have thrown a pass yet for the New York Jets, but he’s already making his new front office look smart. And it all traces back to his former college teammate, Garrett Wilson

Wilson officially agreed to a four-year, $130 million extension with the Jets on Monday, locking in a franchise cornerstone in one of the largest contracts in team history. It marks a dramatic turnaround for a player who just six months ago felt like he was on borrowed time in Florham Park.

Wilson found himself the subject of trade rumors, as the former first-round pick had grown frustrated with the Jets' constant losing, organizational dysfunction, and a strained relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

But the arrival of a new regime and a familiar quarterback changed everything. If Fields' arrival helped even a little in keeping Wilson around, that $40 million is already starting to look like money well spent.

Justin Fields may have played a small part in the Garrett Wilson extension

The concerns surrounding Wilson weren’t just fan speculation. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, people inside the Jets’ building genuinely feared he might request a trade if the team continued down the same path.

The tipping point seemed to come late last season, when Rodgers, fresh off his Achilles tear, pushed for the addition of Davante Adams, his longtime running mate. Wilson’s role in the offense diminished upon Adams' arrival, his targets dropped, and tension built.

Wilson never overtly said anything publicly, but the frustration was obvious. The offense was broken. The coaching staff was out of answers. And the Jets’ young star receiver was quietly becoming one of the organization’s biggest concerns.

But then came the offseason reset. Rodgers was shown the door, and a new front office took over. The Jets signed Justin Fields to a two-year deal, taking a chance on his upside as a potential bridge starter.

Wilson and Fields only overlapped briefly at Ohio State, but there was a connection, and for a team desperate to keep its best homegrown receiver in decades, that connection mattered.

The Jets didn’t sign Fields just to make their star receiver happy, but you’d have a hard time convincing anyone it didn’t help. Wilson had grown tired of the drama, the losing, and the way things unfolded with Rodgers. A change was needed. Fields brought one.

Maybe it wasn’t the deciding factor, but it helped shift the energy, at least a little. If Fields gave Wilson a reason to believe in the new organizational direction — even just a small one — then he’s already delivered something the Jets couldn’t afford to lose.

So no, Justin Fields hasn’t taken a snap for the Jets yet. But if his presence helped keep Garrett Wilson in New York, that’s one win already on the board.

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