Who is the most overpaid player on the New York Jets?
The New York Jets are one of the worst teams in the NFL. They won just three games last season and became the first team in NFL history not to record a defensive interception and lose five straight games by 23 or more points within a single season.
Most people around the league believe WR Garrett Wilson is the best player on the Jets. However, NFL analyst Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report thinks Wilson, despite his talent, is the most overpaid player on New York's roster.
"He's still technically cheap for now, but that four-year, $130 million extension kicks in next year and Wilson's $32.5 million AAV ranks sixth at the position. The talent and potential are undeniable, but this is still a guy who has never put up 1,200 yards or eight touchdowns in a single season and is making borderline Justin Jefferson money."
The Jets signed Wilson to a four-year, $130 million contract extension last summer. The deal included $90 million guaranteed, a $13.75 million signing bonus, a $20 million option bonus in the second year and a $10 million option bonus in Year 3.
Wilson is now signed with the Jets through the 2030 season.
The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Wilson played in only seven games last season because of a knee injury. He put up 36 receptions for 395 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
In 58 games with the Jets, Wilson has 315 catches for 3,644 receiving yards and 18 receiving touchdowns. The OSU product will catch passes from Geno Smith next season.
Smith enters next season with 22,168 passing yards, 124 passing touchdowns and 89 career interceptions in the NFL. His starting record is 42-56-0.
In his first stint with the Jets, Smith went 12-18 as a starter. He threw for 5,962 yards, 28 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. It wasn't pretty.
However, Smith is older and wiser now and believes he's going to prove his critics in New York wrong.
"I just felt like I was back where I belonged, man. It felt special," Smith said. "When I was drafted there, my goal was to play my entire career for the Jets and one day retire as a Jet. And although it didn't go exactly as planned, somehow, some way we got back here and I'm eager to make things right if I can."
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