Entering the season, New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey will have an important decision ahead. One that could impact the franchise for years to come in his tenure. What is this decision? Contract extensions. Specifically for two stars on the team. Primarily, all eyes have been on wide receiver Garrett Wilson, and rightfully so. The 2022 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has been enjoying a productive tenure thus far. However, his fellow 2022 first-round pick also needs an extension. After multiple All-Pro appearances already, star cornerback Sauce Gardner still needs a contract extension, too. While critics knock him for a lack of interceptions or tackles, Gardner has become one of the league’s elite at the position. Even so, Gardner has the chance to play his best football yet and solidify why he deserves a needed raise.
Jets Star Ready to Prove He’s Worth a Contract Extension
When the New York Jets hired Aaron Glenn to be the team’s next head coach, fans were excited for many reasons. The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator managed to help Detroit’s defense despite a lack of depth last year. He’s worked with two respected head coaches in Dan Campbell and future Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, in New Orleans with the Saints. However, the most diehard of the fanbase had another reason to be excited. With one of the league’s best cornerbacks in the secondary, who better to help maximize Sauce Gardner‘s potential than a former Pro Bowl cornerback?
Nearly 20 years ago, Aaron Glenn was in the same position as Sauce Gardner. Selected 12th overall in the 1994 NFL Draft, Aaron Glenn played for eight seasons with the Jets. During that time, he went to two Pro Bowls in New York playing for the legendary Bill Parcells. Glenn witnessed firsthand the impact great head coaching has on a team. Between 1994-1996, the Jets finished with a record of 10-38. Between Parcells’ first two seasons, the Jets record improved to 21-11. If Glenn wishes to have the same impact, they need to get this right early. A big step to achieve this is getting Sauce Gardner to further entrench himself among the league’s best.
All-Pro and Ready for More
Despite some vocal critics, Sauce Gardner’s talent is undeniable. During his historic rookie season in 2022, Gardner won both Defensive Rookie of the Year and was named first-team All-Pro, something only achieved by San Francisco 49ers legend Ronnie Lott. Afterwards, Gardner achieved another first-team All-Pro honor the following year in 2023. While many point to Gardner missing all-pro honors this year for regression, Gardner did record his first career sack last year. Great seasons from the Defensive Player of the Year and Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain, along with Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., overshadowed Gardner’s production. But Gardner wants to make sure this doesn’t become a habit.
Sauce Gardner has allowed fewer yards than the average CB in 39 of his 48 (!) career games#Jets pic.twitter.com/y0OCmSLXbV
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) June 28, 2025
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Improvement on the coaching staff and himself
As noted earlier, head coach Aaron Glenn is a valuable reference point for Sauce Gardner. Gardner has the ear of a fellow Jets’ Pro Bowl cornerback who was hungry to win more in the ’90s. Glenn witnessed the importance of quality coaching in the very cleats Gardner wears in practice before him. Aaron Glenn should feel obligated to maximize his talent, the same way he helped Marshon Lattimore become one of the league’s best while in New Orleans. But Aaron Glenn won’t be alone. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has over 20 years of experience in the NFL. He’s coached some of the league’s best cornerbacks during that time, including but not limited to Josh Norman and Patrick Peterson, among others. That kind of experience can make a difference in Gardner’s continued development.
But it won’t all come from the coaching staff. Sauce Gardner himself has taken action to improve. One concern about Gardner is that despite standing six feet three inches, he’s light for a cornerback. He’s traditionally played at sub 190lbs most of his career. However, this year Gardner has reportedly bulked up to 200 lbs. This will be the largest he’s played his entire life. One could point out that the increased size could lead to a slowdown. However, in Gardner’s case, it could be beneficial. Over the last three years, quarterbacks have thrown less often to Gardner. Last season, only nine passes went his way. If quarterbacks do try to test him more, Gardner needs to break up those passes by any means necessary. That extra size could lead to more passes broken up, and an incomplete pass on any down is always a good thing.
Conclusion
It’s only a matter of when, not if, Sauce Gardner will get his extension. Even after a rough 2024, he’s done more than enough in his first two seasons to earn a raise. Now, between the mentoring from Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks and bulking up, the Jets cornerback is ready to prove once and for all that he should be locked in with the Jets for years to come.
Main Photo: [Nathan Ray Seebeck] – USA Today Sports
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