Sauce Gardner has reportedly agreed a record-breaking new deal with the New York Jets that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Gardner has put pen to paper on a four-year contract worth $120.4million in New York, which gives him a yearly salary of $30.1m.
The 24-year-old confirmed he has signed fresh terms with the Jets on Tuesday, writing on X alongside a photo of himself: ‘THE DEAL IS DONE this only the beginning.’
After crediting his agents for getting the deal done, Gardner added: ‘I appreciate the Jets organization for believing in me, my teammates for the blood, sweat, & tears we put in, and JETS NATION… I appreciate y’all supporting me Thank you GOD’.
His record deal comes just 24 hours after teammate Garrett Wilson signed a new four-year, $130m contract which made him the first receiver in history to earn an average of over $31m per year after playing only three seasons in the league.
Gardner’s bumper extension surpasses the previous cornerback record set as recently as March by Derek Stingley Jr., who signed a three-year, $90m deal with the Houston Texans.
Sauce Gardner has reportedly agreed a record-breaking new deal with the New York Jets
The former Cincinnati college star will head into his fourth season with the Jets later this year after being selected by the team with the fourth overall pick at the 2022 NFL Draft.
After registering 75 tackles and 20 passes defended in 17 appearances, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and a First-team All-pro in his impressive rookie season. He also received the latter honor in the 2023 campaign despite his tackles (57) and passes defended (11) numbers decreasing.
While he has impressed on an individual note, Gardner is yet to make it through to the postseason in New York after three disappointing seasons for the franchise.
The Jets finished bottom of the AFC in his rookie year with a 7-10 record, before a season-ending injury to new superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers resulted in them coming a mere place higher with the same record in 2023.
