Jets might be days away from helping Sauce Gardner make NFL history

The clock is ticking, and all signs point to a massive payday coming sooner rather than later. Sauce Gardner’s long-anticipated contract extension could be finalized any day now, and when it happens, the New York Jets cornerback is expected to make NFL history in the process.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on Monday that Gardner could ink a new deal “before the next time the Jets practice.” With training camp still over a month away, that gives the two sides a few weeks to work out the extension.

After months of anticipation, the Jets appear ready to reward their homegrown superstar and make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. But this wouldn’t just be a win for Gardner.

It would be a resounding early win for the new Aaron Glenn–Darren Mougey era, as it would send a clear message about how the Jets plan to build: by locking in their foundational players for the long haul.

Jets could finalize a Sauce Gardner extension any day now

Gardner’s extension has felt inevitable for months. The former No. 4 overall pick is still just 24 years old and has already established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in football.

A two-time first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons, Gardner followed those campaigns with what many considered a “down year” in 2024, and yet he still allowed the fewest catches (25) among all qualified cornerbacks.

His penalty and tackling issues last season, including 10 flags and some early-season whiffs, were noticeable, but they don’t change the fact that Gardner remains a lockdown corner in every sense of the word.

And despite the outside noise, the Jets have made it clear they want to keep him in green and white for years to come. In reality, it's a no-brainer decision.

There appears to be a sense of mutual trust between the Jets and their defensive cornerstone. Gardner never held out or made noise publicly about a new deal. In fact, he said at minicamp that he “just wanted to show [his] teammates and coaches how much [he] want[s] to win.”

He also told reporters he feels “pretty good” about how talks have gone — a clear sign that negotiations are in a good place with weeks still to spare before training camp.

Gardner’s next contract is expected to surpass Derek Stingley Jr.’s recent record-setting extension (three years, $90 million) and is likely to crack the $30 million-per-year threshold, a number once thought outlandish for a cornerback.

The Jets extending Garrett Wilson, Gardner’s fellow 2022 first-rounder and another franchise cornerstone, could follow soon after. But make no mistake: Gardner is the priority. A deal could be announced at any moment.

It’s not a matter of if the Jets extend Sauce Gardner. It’s a matter of when.

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