Sauce Gardner’s 2024 season raised questions about his future with the New York Jets. After two dominant years, the cornerback struggled to maintain his elite level of play, creating uncertainty around his next contract despite the team picking up his fifth-year option.
How Will Gardner’s 2024 Struggles Impact His Next Contract?
The New York Jets have committed to cornerback Sauce Gardner, picking up his fifth-year option while his rookie contract still has two seasons left on it. At the same time, the Jets also picked up the fifth-year options of 10th overall pick Garrett Wilson and 26th overall pick Jermaine Johnson II.
While Gardner’s first two seasons in the NFL were strong, his 2024 campaign was lacking compared to what he had accomplished in his first two seasons. This dip in performance has created questions about his future earning potential.
NFL Analyst Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com recently opined that Gardner’s 2024 season could have an effect on his future contract situation with the Jets, despite their having picked up the fifth year option.
“Still, it was well below the standard Gardner had set. The situation makes the question of whether Gardner gets his second deal before, or after, the 2025 season, when he’s due to make only $5.2 million, very interesting.”
Sauce Gardner gets beat in coverage and then a total crap effort in pursuit
pic.twitter.com/58RqrT30yP— Joe Marino (@TheJoeMarino) November 19, 2023
He continued, “What the Jets will be willing to pay him after his 2024 season may be much less than what he’d get after a strong 2025. And the Jets may be hoping to get him to own 2024 by accepting that the reward will come in 2026.”
What Are the Jets’ New Coaches Demanding From Gardner?
The Jets, who are now led by coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, are hoping Gardner can more closely replicate his performance in the 2022 and 2023 NFL seasons. The new coaching staff has made it clear they want more from their star cornerback.
During a recent interview with ESPN, Gardner acknowledged that New York’s new-look coaching staff wants to push him closer to “perfection.”
“I know I’m not perfect, but the fact that [Wilks] is trying to get perfection out of me is what I need because, you know, I’ve had a lot of success, early success in the league,” Gardner said. “And the last thing I need is a new regime to come in here and just allow me to be complacent.
“I’m not saying that’s who I am, but it’s great to just have those type of guys that are going to demand a lot out of me and just push me in ways that I’ve never been pushed before.”
The numbers tell the story of Gardner’s decline. In the 2024 NFL season, Gardner was ranked 47th out of 52 cornerbacks in Expected Points Added per target. It was a far cry from his first two seasons in the NFL. In 2022, he was ranked second out of 49, and in 2023, he was ranked 13th out of 47. With the Jets’ new coaching staff, both sides hope those figures improve in 2025.
Gardner, who originally hails from Detroit, Michigan, has racked up 181 total tackles so far in his NFL career, along with 41 pass deflections, three interceptions, one sack, and one forced fumble.
He was also honored by being named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2022 NFL season, and he was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2022 and 2023. He also earned Pro Bowl appearances in those seasons.
