Garrett Wilson, Sauce Gardner Reportedly Had 'Preliminary' Contract Talks with Jets

Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner are both eligible for contract extensions for the first time this offseason and are looking to get paid by the New York Jets.

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler on SportsCenter (starts at 1:20 mark), the Jets have had "preliminary talks" with their star cornerback and wide receiver.

There's no indication that either player is unhappy about the status of their contract talks. Gardner and Wilson both participated in mandatory minicamp this week.

Speaking to reporters from minicamp on Thursday, Gardner said he feels "pretty good" about his discussions with the Jets, and his decision not to hold out was about sending a positive message to the rest of the team.

Gardner also said he and Wilson have talked about how they want to be "building blocks" for the franchise.

There was speculation that Wilson might look for a way out of New York if Aaron Rodgers returned as quarterback in 2025, but there has been no indication he is unhappy at this point with Justin Fields taking over under center.

The market for a Gardner extension may have been established earlier this offseason when Derek Stingley Jr. signed a three-year, $90 million deal with the Houston Texans.

ESPN's Rich Cimini reported in May that Stingley's deal will likely serve as the baseline for Gardner in his talks with the Jets.

Wilson also figures to get a lucrative extension considering he has recorded 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, despite what can best be described as shaky quarterback play.

CBS Sports' Joel Corry suggested DK Metcalf's four-year, $132 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers could be the baseline for Wilson. The total value of Metcalf's extension is $150 million over five years when combined with the money remaining on his previous deal.

Both Gardner and Wilson have two years remaining on their rookie contracts after the Jets picked up the fifth-year options on their deals in April. They could attempt to wait on signing either or both of their young stars to extensions after the 2025 season, but that would likely only increase the cost as other players at the same position sign new deals in the coming months.