Jets set new standard with record-breaking Sauce Gardner extension

The New York Jets and All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner have officially agreed to terms on a record-setting contract extension, reportedly finalizing the deal before the start of training camp later this month.

The contract is expected to make Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, surpassing the $30 million per year mark set by Derek Stingley Jr. earlier this offseason.

The full terms of the deal include $120.4 million over four years, with an average annual value of $30.1 million. It also makes him one of the highest-paid players in Jets history.

For the Jets, it’s a reflection of how this new regime plans to do business. Gone are the drawn-out negotiations and holdouts. The Jets just sent a loud message to the rest of their locker room by rewarding one of the franchise's best homegrown talents in years.

Jets make Sauce Gardner the highest-paid CB in NFL history

Gardner has done nothing but dominate since entering the league as the No. 4 overall pick in 2022. He became the first rookie cornerback in more than 40 years to be named a first-team All-Pro, only to follow it up with another All-Pro nod in 2023.

Even in what was undoubtedly a "down year" in 2024, Gardner still allowed the fewest catches of any qualified cornerback in the NFL. The tackling inconsistencies and uptick in penalties were issues, but he remained one of the best cover corners in the league.

Statistically and stylistically, Gardner is still in a class of his own. He's one of just three defensive players to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two NFL seasons, joining the likes of Lawrence Taylor and Micah Parsons.

He’s not just the best player on the Jets’ defense. He’s arguably the face of the franchise. Gardner is a legitimate superstar at one of the game’s most important positions.

This offseason, Gardner made it clear where he wanted to be. He showed up to OTAs and mandatory minicamp without a deal in place. There was an element of trust between one of the team’s most respected players and a new front office determined to reset the way business is done in Florham Park.

That trust just got rewarded. And the message it sends to the rest of the locker room is hard to miss.

Garrett Wilson, another member of the Jets' famous 2022 draft class, received his well-deserved extension earlier this month. Now, Gardner joins him as the two highest-paid players on the roster.

For now, the Jets just sent a message to not only Sauce Gardner but to the rest of their team. If you do things the right way in this organization, you’ll get taken care of.

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