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

That Ohio State connection runs deep.

Justin Fried

NY Jets quarterback Justin Fields / John Jones-Imagn Images

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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Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.