Sauce Gardner agrees to $120.4 million contract extension with Jets, source confirms

It was Sauce Gardner’s turn to get paid — and he got the bag.

One day after the Jets made Garrett Wilson one of the highest-paid receivers in the NFL, they gave Gardner a contract extension that will make him the league's highest-paid cornerback.

Gardner and the Jets agreed on a four-year, $120.4 million extension, a league source said. Gardner’s new deal includes $85.653 million guaranteed and will keep him under contract until 2030. He still has two years remaining on his rookie contract.

“THE DEAL IS DONE,” Gardner posted on X Tuesday afternoon. “This (is) only the beginning….. I appreciate the Jets organization for believing in me, my teammates for the blood, sweat & tears we put in and JETS Nation.”

Gardner, a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl corner, is set to make $30.1 million annually with his new contract. That's the most at his position, surpassing the $30 million annual contract of Houston Texans star corner Derek Stingley Jr.

This was a monumental two days for the Jets. They agreed to a four-year, $130 million extension with Wilson on Monday.

Wilson and Gardner are the first two Jets’ first-round picks to receive extensions after three NFL seasons. It speaks to how much the new regime of general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn believe in Gardner and Wilson, who were drafted in 2022 when Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh ran the football department.

Glenn has spoken about wanting to keep good players in a Jets uniform and hold on to homegrown talent. They’ve done that with these two big moves.

“Jets green has been running through me since the day they drafted me,” Wilson posted on X Tuesday morning. “Despite the ups and downs, the faith is mutual….that means the world to me.

“Excited to start a new version of the chase next week.”

The Jets report for training camp next Tuesday. It was important for them to get both cornerstone players locked up before camp and avoid any potential distractions.

Both players expressed confidence during the offseason program that they would get new deals, though. Neither of them considered holding out of the voluntary or mandatory sessions. Gardner and Wilson are excited to see how the Jets will grow as a team under their new leadership.

Glenn, a former first-round pick of the Jets, is trying to change the culture and lead the franchise to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Keeping Gardner and Wilson happy and in a Jets uniform for six more years should go a long way toward accomplishing that and showing other players how the organization values its star players.

Gardner was the No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft. He was taken six spots ahead of Wilson. Both made immediate impacts.

Gardner earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Wilson was voted Offensive Rookie of the Year. Wilson has been a dynamic and very productive receiver, but Gardner has been the more decorated player to this point.

He was a first-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons, but Gardner experienced a little dip in his play last season.

If there's a knock on Gardner it's his lack of interceptions. He has only three in his career. But he's looking forward to being more of a ballhawk and re-establishing himself playing in Glenn's and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks’ system. Gardner believes he will be in position to showcase his talents even more in their scheme.

“I always thank them every single day because they put me in a position to make plays,” Gardner said last month. “Not just me finding ways to make plays and trying to do herculean things to make plays. They actually put me and the whole defense in position to make plays. I’m ready for that. I’m ready to showcase that.”