A good sauce can lift any dish. A great sauce might become the main event.
When it comes to the New York Jets, they are getting the best of both worlds in Sauce Gardner.
The Jets’ star cornerback has agreed to a four-year, $120.4 million extension with the team, according to reports. The deal reportedly includes $60 million in guaranteed money.
Gardner has blossomed into a star since entering the league. Drafted with the fourth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the cornerback been a key piece in stabilizing a Jets’ secondary that has gotten used to featuring talented players through the years.
It guarantees that one of the league’s top cornerbacks won’t be hitting the open market anytime soon. Here’s what to know about Gardner’s new deal with the Jets.
Sauce Gardner contract details
Gardner agreed to a four-year deal worth $120.4 million, according to reports. The deal also reportedly contains $60 million in guaranteed money.
The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $30.1 million, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, according to OverTheCap.
Gardner is the second Jets’ first-round pick since Quinnen Williams to receive a second contract with the team. His teammate, Garrett Wilson, beat him to the punch on a new deal on July 14.
Since the rookie wage scale was introduced in 2011, the Jets have made 17 first-round picks. Of the 15 players that reached extension eligibility, only three were signed – Williams, Muhammad Wilkerson and Gardner’s fellow 2022 draft pick, Wilson.
Sauce Gardner stats
Gardner has been a mainstay in the Jets defense since arriving before the 2022 season. He’s played in 48 of a possible 51 games, showing plenty of durability in a league that sees more than its fair share of injuries.
The cornerback has totaled just three interceptions in his young career, but the two-time All-Pro has received plenty of recognition for his work on the field. With two Pro Bowl appearances and a 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year to go with it, Gardner has cemented himself amongst the best cornerbacks in the league in just three seasons.