Jets blasted by Pro Bowl CB for handling of Sauce Gardner extension

Training camp is less than a month away, and the New York Jets still haven’t locked up their best player. Sauce Gardner is widely expected to become the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history sometime this summer, but as of July 2, he remains without an extension.

It feels inevitable — and the hope is that it probably is — but that hasn’t stopped the pressure from building. Even players on other teams are starting to weigh in.

Veteran Steelers cornerback Darius Slay took to X (formerly Twitter) this week to call out the Jets for dragging their feet on a deal. Gardner responded to Slay's call for action with what I suppose you can call calming optimism. Their exchange can be seen below.

He’s likely right. Still, with fans growing anxious and training camp growing closer, the wait feels longer by the day.

When will the Jets extend Sauce Gardner?

The Jets should know exactly what they have in Gardner. The former No. 4 overall pick became the first cornerback in NFL history to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons.

Even in what was considered a “down year” by his standards in 2024, Gardner allowed just 25 receptions all season, the fewest of any cornerback in the NFL. He remains one of the league's elite players, at any position.

There’s no question he deserves to reset the market. The real question is how much it’ll cost.

That price went up last month when the Houston Texans handed Derek Stingley Jr. a three-year, $90 million extension with a staggering $89 million guaranteed earlier this offseason.

That deal didn't come without risk for Houston, especially considering Stingley has battled injuries throughout his career. But it also gave Gardner a new bar, one he’s all but guaranteed to clear.

That’s part of why Jets fans, and apparently players like Slay, are getting antsy. The longer the Jets wait, the more expensive this deal could become. And with Garrett Wilson also eligible for an extension, there’s a strong incentive for the organization to get something done with both players before another price benchmark is set.

Still, most around the league expect a deal to get done before training camp begins later this month. The Jets want to reward Gardner and avoid any distractions heading into a transitional 2025 season. He remains the face of their defense and one of the most recognizable stars in the entire NFL.

If Gardner enters Week 1 without an extension, that would be a massive surprise — and a major mistake. But until pen hits paper, it’s clearly not just Jets fans who will remain restless.

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