Sauce Gardner sends bold message to NY Jets about his future

Sauce Gardner has managed to capture the hearts and admiration of NY Jets fans everywhere over the last two years. Gardner's on-field dominance and off-field demeanor have instantly made him one of the most beloved Jets players in recent memory.

And he has no plans to change that anytime soon.

Gardner took to social media this week to make an unprompted bold declaration about his future. There's no doubt in his mind — he wants to play for the Jets for the rest of his career.

"I wanna be a New York Jet for the rest of my career." That was the message Gardner shared on social media on Thursday. The Jets are likely hoping for the same outcome.

Sauce Gardner wants to play for the NY Jets for his entire career

The fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Gardner wasted little time establishing himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL as a rookie.

The former Cincinnati star earned first-team All-Pro honors in his first pro season, becoming the first cornerback to achieve that honor since Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott in 1981.

Gardner followed up his incredible rookie season with an arguably even more impressive 2023. The 23-year-old was named first-team All-Pro for the second consecutive season, becoming one of the only cornerbacks in NFL history to accomplish that.

It may be early, but Gardner is genuinely on pace to be one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. As such, he's expected to receive a historic payday when the time comes.

Gardner will be eligible for an extension as soon as next offseason, and the expectation is that the Jets will look to work out a long-term deal before his market continues to explode.

Expect something along the lines of a five-year, $100 million contract with over $70 million in guarantees as a starting point. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Gardner's total contract value exceed $120 million when the dust settles.

That would make him not only the highest-paid player in Jets history but the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. Gardner will very likely reset the cornerback market.

While that's a hefty price tag to pay, it's a deal the Jets will have to get done. Gardner wants to remain in New York for the remainder of his career, and there's no reason why the Jets shouldn't want the same.

Just as Gardner continues to endear Jets fans with his performance on the field, he continues to do the same with his attitude off the field. This is a player you build your franchise around.