Jets, CB Sauce Gardner reach 4-year, $120.4M extension: source

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Jul 15, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — A day after his teammate and fellow 2022 draft mate, Garrett Wilson, received a contract extension, Sauce Gardner will also be a Jet long-term.

Gardner is now the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL after receiving a four-year, $120.4 million extension, sources told the New York Daily News.

The deal includes $85.653 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.

Gardner, 24, will average $30.1 million per season, which slightly surpasses Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., who signed a three-year, $90 million extension last March. Stingley was selected a spot ahead of Gardner in the 2022 NFL draft.

“THE DEAL IS DONE this only the beginning,” Gardner said in a post on X. “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.”

Along with Wilson and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson, the Jets exercised Gardner’s fifth-year option in April, which had him under control until after the 2026 season. After extending Wilson as well, the Jets locked up both of their cornerstone players through 2030.

In previous seasons, the Jets haven’t been as proactive in signing stars to contract extensions with two years left on their deals. However, first-year general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn have expressed their desire to maintain the young talent they have while adding more talent to the roster.

Since the end of last season, Gardner has continued to express his desire to remain with the Jets and help turn around the franchise, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010.

“I wanna to win, I want to be a part of changing the organization,” Gardner said last month during mandatory minicamp. “We got a new regime with AG [Glenn] and the coaching staff he brought in. I feel like they’re doing a great job and changing the culture.”

Gardner quickly made an impact in the league after he was the first cornerback since the league merger (1970) to be named to the first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams during his rookie season in 2022. He was also named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Gardner followed that up with another first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl campaign in 2023. However, Gardner’s play slipped last season, in which the Jets finished 5-12. He registered 49 tackles, nine pass breakups and one interception after battling a hamstring injury late in the year.

During his first two seasons in the league, Gardner averaged 66 tackles and 16 pass breakups. Opposing quarterbacks completed 56.9% of their passes and had an 86.9 passer rating when they threw Gardner’s way, according to Pro Football Reference.

“I always feel like I’ve got something to prove each and every year,” Gardner said. “I feel like I had something to prove going into the league, my first year, after my second year, after my third year, you know, and yeah, that’s just me.”