Sauce Gardner explains why he didn't hold out with positive extension update

Sauce Gardner could have taken a different approach. He’s eligible for a contract extension, widely expected to become the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, and still without a new deal as the New York Jets wrapped up their offseason program.

A holdout would’ve been justified — expected, even. Instead, he showed up and put his money where his mouth is.

While other stars across the league stayed home amid contract disputes, Gardner chose to do the opposite. That decision speaks volumes, not just about his priorities, but about the mutual trust that’s already formed between Gardner and new head coach Aaron Glenn.

And after the Jets’ final minicamp practice on Thursday, Gardner explained exactly why he made that choice.

"I just wanted to show my teammates, my coaches how much I want to win. I want to be part of the change in the organization."

Sauce Gardner

Sauce Gardner is optimistic about his NY Jets future

Gardner isn’t the only Jets star walking the walk this offseason. He and Garrett Wilson, the cornerstones of the team's historic 2022 draft class and the faces of the franchise moving forward, have embraced their roles as leaders in every way.

Neither held out. Both showed up for voluntary workouts. Both have said they want to be Jets for life. And both are expected to sign massive contract extensions in the coming months.

“We always talk about competing in practice and making each other better because we’re the building blocks,” Gardner said Thursday, speaking on his relationship with Wilson.

That kind of mindset reflects the team-first culture that Aaron Glenn is working to instill, and the early buy-in from the Jets’ most important players is hard to ignore.

Gardner also addressed his ongoing contract negotiations after practice, offering a brief but optimistic update. “My team and the Jets have been talking and, you know, I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going,” he said.

Gardner’s extension is likely to reset the cornerback market. After the Houston Texans made Derek Stingley Jr. the NFL’s highest-paid corner earlier this offseason, Gardner is widely expected to top that deal, with a projected average annual value in the $30 million range, and likely a bit more.

The Jets already picked up his fifth-year option, keeping him under team control through 2026, but both sides are motivated to get something done sooner. Ideally, before training camp begins in July.

His 2024 season may not have been as dominant as the previous two, but Gardner still performed at a near-elite level. The two-time first-team All-Pro dealt with some early-season tackling issues and drew more penalties than usual, but he still allowed the fewest catches among all qualified cornerbacks.

Under new defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the Jets are expected to play more man coverage, which should put Gardner in an even more impactful position moving forward. Perhaps the Jets will finally allow him to start shadowing opposing teams' top wide receivers.

But more than just his on-field performance, it’s Gardner’s presence and professionalism that have set the tone. He’s never made the contract situation a distraction. He’s spoken highly of Glenn. And he’s approached every practice like a player who’s not just trying to get paid, but trying to lead.

If Gardner is the foundation of the Jets' future, he’s proving it with more than just words.

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