The New York Jets stayed true to their word. Earlier this offseason, the team expressed their fervent interest in signing both of their first-round selections from the 2022 NFL draft, and that’s exactly what they’ve done. A day after signing superstar receiver Garrett Wilson to a 4-year, $130 million contract extension, multiple NFL insiders have announced that lockdown cornerback Ahamad “Sauce” Gardner has agreed to terms on a historic 4-year, $120.4 million deal. This just narrowly beats out Houston’s Derek Stingley, who had signed a 3-year, $90 million contract back in March, for the highest-value contract ever given to a cornerback.
Make no mistake, Gardner is worth every penny of this contract. He took the NFL world by storm shortly after becoming the 4th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and becoming a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons. It’s true that the 2024 season was a bit of a step backwards for the young superstar, but that is almost certainly more a result of the chaotic fallout that came from the midseason firing of former head coach Robert Saleh. Jets fans should have no fear about whether Gardner can bounce back in 2025.
With both Wilson and Gardner locked in to long-term deals, the Jets organization as well as the fans can heave a sigh of relief that any offseason contract drama has been avoided, unlike other teams. Now, the Jets can focus solely on putting together a winning team.
