What Garrett Wilson's Contract Means For Jets' Future Plans

The New York Jets had at least one very clear front-office goal in mind ahead of the start of training camp.

Extend the best of their young talents as soon as possible.

After Monday afternoon's lucrative extension for Garrett Wilson, the Jets accomplished a major part of that ahead of camp. Former Offensive Rookie of the Year Wilson received a lucrative four-year extension worth over $130 million. The annual average of over $32.5 million vaulted Wilson into the top-five of highest-paid players at his position.

What's next?

For starters, the deal means so much more than just extending Wilson.

It has been a long time since the Jets have extended a former first-round pick past his rookie contract who plays on offense. Former fourth-overall pick D'Brickashaw Ferguson received a six-year extension ... and that was way back during the 2010 season.

New York has been able to extend defensive stars through the years. But ... failing to find and develop quality offensive players who they can rely on is a big reason why the organization has struggled so much over the years.

The fact that Wilson has become one of those high-quality players is a sign that the Jets finally hit on the right guy in terms of roster-building. During the Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh era, the Jets seemingly were never really fans of extending players ahead of their contract expiring.

That left the club in a very difficult position for too many years. ... either due to a lack of proactivity or maybe due to the fact that the players weren't good enough to merit huge new deals.

Now the Jets have a new regime that seems to be prioritizing a different mindset to roster-building - and to paying for it. New York extending Wilson should be a first step, with other players like Sauce Gardner and Alijah Vera-Tucker getting new deals along the way.

Get 'em done? That will show that the Jets are willing to pay ... and that the players are worthy of the payday.