The New York Jets are making Sauce Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.
The Jets and Gardner agreed on a four-year, $120.4m extension through the 2030 season, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the agreement had not been announced.
The contract paying the two-time All-Pro an average of $30.1m a year comes a day after the Jets agreed to a lucrative extension with their No 1 wide receiver, Garrett Wilson. That deal is worth $130m, as the organization locked up two foundational players – who are both 24 – for the long-term future.
“I appreciate the Jets organization for believing in me, my teammates for the blood, sweat, & tears we put in, and JETS NATION… I appreciate y’all supporting me … Thank you GOD,” Gardner posted to X on Tuesday.
Gardner, who turns 25 before Week 1, was the No 4 pick in the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati. He established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks during his first two professional seasons, including being selected the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
After a down year by his standards, he is out to prove naysayers wrong, saying he has always been an underdog. After recently declining to say whether he wanted to be the richest player at the position, Gardner now has that distinction.
“Man, I just wanted to show my teammates, show the coaches how much I’m bought into this,” Gardner said. “I want to win. I want to change the organization. I want to be a part of changing the organization.”
The Jets have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, dating to a trip to the AFC championship game in the 2010 season. The organization hopes the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn – himself a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback in his playing days – can lead a successful turnaround.