Jets Signing Sauce Gardner To $90 Million Contract In Play.
The New York Jets are predicted to sign Sauce Gardner to a massive extension.
The New York Jets haven’t put together a winning season in nine years and are coming off of a 5-12 season after a pair of seven-win seasons. Still, the Jets have a handful of budding young stars to be excited about.
A trio of young standouts came to the Jets in the first round 2022 NFL Draft. Garrett Wilson has been one of the NFL’s best receivers despite having to deal with one of the worst quarterback situations of any receiver in his career. Jermaine Johnson has blossomed into a Pro Bowl talent as a versatile defensive player.
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The other first round selection for the Jets was the first one they took off the board in cornerback Sauce Gardner. Gardner was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 and has made two Pro Bowls and two All Pro teams.
With the trio entering their fourth NFL season, they are extension eligible, and the Jets will have to dole out some serious cash to keep them in town.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan recently identified the top extension candidate for each NFL franchise, and his pick for the Jets was Gardner.
“New York has a trio of candidates that could soon be paid handsomely. While we are highlighting Gardner here, wideout Garrett Wilson and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II (who were also selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft) are only under contract through the 2026 season.” Wrote Sullivan.
“The former No. 4 overall pick won the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and has already been a two-time first-team All-Pro through the first three seasons of his career. Gardner’s production in 2024 dipped slightly, but still held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.9% completion rate when targeting him. Whenever he does sign an extension, it’ll likely reset the market.”
Gardner’s extension will likely reset the cornerback market, and Gardner has a legit shot at becoming the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Spotrac currently has Gardner projected to sign a three-year deal that would pay him $21.7 million annually. However, that could be seen as a conservative projection, as the Houston Texans recently give Derek Stingley Jr. $30 million per annum.
That number makes more sense to us … which might make Sauce a $90 mil cornerback.