Jets make Sauce Gardner highest paid NFL cornerback

Sauce Gardner (Mark Getman, Wikimedia Commons)

The New York Jets are committed to one of their top defensive players for the long term. Within the last week, the Jets made Sauce Gardner the highest paid cornerback in the National Football League as he signed a four year contract extension worth $120.4 million according to the Associated Press. Gardner will average $30,1 million per season between 2027 and 2030.

This past season Gardner had 49 combined tackles (36 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), one tackle for a loss, one quarterback hit, one sack, one interception, and nine pass deflections. The interception was for zero yards and came in a 32-25 Jets win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 15. The Jaguars quarterback was Mac Jones, who spent considerable time in the AFC East with the New England Patriots.

Gardner also had two outstanding seasons to begin his career as a New York Jet. In 2022, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Gardner had 75 combined tackles (51 solo tackles and 24 assisted tackles), three tackles for a loss, two interceptions for 19 yards, a NFL high 20 pass deflections, and one quarterback hit. The first interception and quarterback hit came in a 40-17 Jets win over the Miami Dolphins on October 9, 2022. The second interception came in a 20-17 Jets win over the Buffalo Bills on November 6, 2022.

Then in 2023, Gardner was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year. He had 57 combined tackles (41 solo tackles and 16 assisted tackles), two tackles for a loss, 11 pass deflections and one forced fumble. The two tackles for a loss came in Jets wins. The first came in a 13-10 Jets win over the New York Giants on October 29, 2023, and the second came in a 30-6 Jets win over the Houston Texans on December 10, 2023.

Even though the Jets are committed to Gardner for the long term, they are still projected to be behind the Buffalo Bills in the short term. The Bills are projected to win the AFC East.