In an attractive coincidence, Sauce Gardner expressed optimism that his contract talks with the Jets are headed in the best path whereas standing in entrance of a backdrop promoting Money App.
Gardner participated in obligatory minicamp this week as a substitute of holding out and accepting a high quality to ship a message about urgency and leverage in negotiations.
Veterans Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) and T.J. Watt (Steelers) try the alternative path.
“I simply wished to indicate my teammates and the coaches how a lot I’m purchased into this,” Gardner stated after Thursday’s observe. “I wish to win. I wish to be part of altering the group.”
Gardner’s first three seasons embrace a Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award, two Professional Bowls and two First-Staff All-Professional alternatives.
He’s due $5.2 million this season and is below group management on a fifth-year possibility in 2026.
The straightforward resolution is to make Gardner the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback earlier than later and keep away from the flashbacks to standoffs with Jamal Adams and Darrelle Revis.
No have to persuade head coach Aaron Glenn — a former Professional Bowl cornerback for the Jets — on the worth of lockdown protection.
That contract ceiling — occupied momentarily by the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. at a median annual wage of $30 million over three years — solely will proceed climbing, and Stingley (No. 3) and Gardner (No. 4) had been back-to-back picks within the 2022 draft.
There’s loads of room between Stingley and the No. 2 possibility, Panthers’ Jaycee Horn ($25 million per yr over 4 seasons).
“My major focus is being one of the best soccer participant I could be,” Gardner stated, “however my group and the Jets have been speaking, and I really feel actually good about how the talks have been going. I don’t actually wish to get into the numbers.”
Basic supervisor Darren Mougey might play hardball and make Gardner wait one other yr, but it surely will get difficult with receiver Garrett Wilson and Gardner on the identical contract timeline and just one franchise tag out there per offseason.
To not point out 2026 free brokers Jermaine Johnson and Breece Corridor.
“Since Day 1, [Wilson and I] got here right here saying we have now to push one another as a result of we wish to assist the group,” Gardner stated. “If you happen to win in New York, it’s large to your legacy individually, large for the group.
“Quick-forward, we’re going into 12 months 4 collectively, and we at all times discuss competing at observe and the way we have now to make one another higher as a result of we’re the constructing blocks for this group. We’re the homegrown expertise that A.G. talks about.”
Critics — and Gardner surprisingly has greater than most prime gamers — say the 24-year-old star took a step again final season when he wasn’t named a Professional Bowler or an All-Professional.
They usually level to his low three-year interception complete of three in comparison with Singley’s 11.
“His customary is so excessive as a result of he’s such a special participant than all people else on the sector,” cornerback Michael Carter II stated. “He’s centered, locked in. His mindset doesn’t change someway.”
Gardner appreciates the problem from Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to chase perfection.
“I do know I’m not excellent,” Gardner stated, “however the truth that [Wilks] is attempting to get perfection out of me is what I would like. I’ve had quite a lot of early success within the league, and the very last thing I would like is a brand new regime to come back in right here and permit me to be complacent — not saying that’s who I’m. It’s nice to have these kinds of guys who’re going to demand lots out of me and push me in methods I’ve by no means been pushed earlier than.”
Gardner nonetheless seems like an “underdog” as a Cincinnati product.
“All people was saying, ‘He’s going to be an All-Professional,’ however they didn’t actually consider that was going to occur till it occurred,” Gardner stated. “Then they shortly jumped ship. I’m actually used to it. I at all times really feel like I’ve one thing to show yearly.”
The brand new protection is predicted to be extra blitz-heavy and man-to-man-coverage primarily based than what Gardner beforehand skilled.
Is he prepared for a brand new position?
“I thank them daily as a result of they put me ready to make performs,” Gardner stated. “Not me discovering methods to make performs and attempting to do Herculean issues. They’re placing me, the remainder of our secondary and our complete protection ready to make performs.”
And playmakers receives a commission large bucks.
