NFL world can’t stop raving about Jets after front office finesse

New England Patriots v New York Jets
New England Patriots v New York Jets | Cooper Neill/GettyImages

NY Jets fans are likely sick of their beloved franchise being used as a whipping post and a shorthand for NFL incompetence, but the franchise's repeated desire to put a piece of rebar in their bike wheels whenever they get some positive momentum has helped make them the NFL's proverbial dunce cap.

The hope is that Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey can change this unfortunate designation. The two have managed to start off life in charge of the Jets quite well, pulling in a solid NFL Draft class before coming to terms on extensions with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson and sensational cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Wilson's $130 million contract will pay him upwards of $32 million per year, while Gardner's $120.4 million deal makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history at $30.1 million per season. The NFL media landscape as a whole seems stunned that the Jets did something competent and proactive in one fell swoop.

Jets praised after extending both Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner

Dianna Russini, who has had plenty of things to say about the Jets' direction under Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh, is a big fan of what this new front office is doing. 2025 may not bring wins, but this organization seems to be heading in the right direction without Aaron Rodgers.

Leger Douzable, who played for the Jets the last time they had their act together, was thrilled that the Jets are both taking care of their homegrown talent and finding homegrown players like these two who are actually worth taking care of.

Ian Rapoport handed the Jets the most backhanded compliment in the world after they got this deal done, calling them "unusual" in how quickly they were able to get these deals done. It seems like the days of the Jets refusing to lock in their best players at optimal times are slowly going away.

Both Wilson and Gardner deserved these extensions. Gardner might be the best cornerback in the game when he's playing, and Wilson has topped 1,000 yards in three seasons straight despite some horrid quarterback play.

The Jets are finally doing things that most normal, well-run organizations do. They're drafting well and retaining their own in the name of future success, even if there are some serious questions about how this team is going to perform in the immediate short-term future.

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