Jets & Sauce Gardner Agree to Record-Setting Extension: Report

It’s been a busy offseason for the New York Jets, and their activity is heating up even more with training camp on the horizon. Just a day after wide receiver Garrett Wilson agreed to terms on a huge contract extension, a fellow 2022 NFL Draft pick is inking a deal.

Star cornerback Sauce Gardner has also agreed to terms on a sizable new contract. Gardner first announced the completion of the deal himself on his X page.

“THE DEAL IS DONE this is only the beginning,” Gardner’s post began. “My brother [Allante Gardner] bts & [AJ Vaynerchuk] got it done. I appreciate the Jets organization for believing in me, my teammates for the blood, sweat, & tears we put in, and JETS NATION… I appreciate y’all supporting me Thank you GOD.”

Sauce Gardner Contract Extension Details With Jets Revealed

Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media first reported the early financial details of Gardner’s extension. According to Pelissero, it’s a four-year contract for Gardner that will see him make a total of $120.4 million. That $30.1M average annual value (AAV) figure makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. In fact, he’s the highest-paid cornerback ever.

The deal, much like Wilson’s, keeps Gardner with the Jets through 2030. He’ll make $60M in “new money guarantees” on this contract, per Pelissero. Some of the NFL’s other highest-paid corners include Derek Stingley Jr. ($30M AAV), Jaycee Horn ($25M AAV), Jalen Ramsey ($24.1M AAV) and Patrick Surtain II ($24M AAV).

This development was widely expected by many. Following Wilson’s extension on July 14, media members like Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic and Rich Cimini of ESPN indicated that they expected Gardner to get paid not too long thereafter.

Gardner Eyeing Rebound Season for New York in 2025

What Gardner has done in such a short period of time is remarkable. Opening his career with back-to-back Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nods, Gardner also was named the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year. 2023 saw him record 11 passes broken up with 57 tackles in 16 regular-season games.

Last season, however, marked a decline in Gardner’s play. In 15 contests, he had just 9 passes defended with 49 tackles and an 86.9 passer rating surrendered in coverage. Pro Football Focus graded him as their 46th overall cornerback and their 33rd-ranked cover corner. Although Gardner remained a good player, he was far from an elite one.

Despite that, Gardner is laser-focused on bouncing back in 2025. New head coach Aaron Glenn has already made a profound impact on him. The 24-year-old said on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he’s chasing perfection under new leadership this year.

“I always want to be perfect, even though there is no such thing as perfect people, I want to be perfect,” Gardner said. “That is what I need. I have had a lot of early success in the league and I never want to get complacent. Mr. [Woody] Johnson bringing a new regime in, that is going to push me even more. I don’t know if anyone can push me more than I push myself, but for them to come in here and like also push me and have this new standard that I haven’t even reached for me is just a blessing for sure.”

With a new price tag comes greater responsibility and expectation. Luckily for the Jets, both they and Gardner believe he’s ready to embrace it all.