Jets' Sauce Gardner Reportedly Will Attend Mandatory Minicamp Amid Contract Talks

On a day when several notable players are choosing to skip mandatory minicamp while awaiting a new contract, Sauce Gardner is with the New York Jets on Tuesday.

Per The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Gardner took the field with his teammates for the start of minicamp as he seeks a long-term extension.

Gardner is locked in for two more seasons after the Jets picked up the fifth-year option in his rookie deal in April. The move guarantees him $20.2 million in 2026.

This offseason also marks the first time Gardner is eligible to sign a long-term extension. He wasn't as dominant in 2024 compared to the previous two years, but his down season still looks good relative to most cornerbacks.

Per Pro Football Focus, Gardner ranked in the 93rd percentile in single coverage grade and 99th percentile in forced incompletion rate among all qualified cornerbacks last season.

The biggest issue for Gardner last season was penalties. He had nine flags thrown against him, compared to seven in 2022 and 2023 combined. If he can avoid those mistakes, there's no reason to think he won't be back at an All-Pro level again.

As for what type of deal it might take from the Jets to get Gardner signed, ESPN's Rich Cimini floated Derek Stingley Jr.'s extension with the Houston Texans as a starting point.

Stingley extended with the Texans for three years, $90 million with $89 million guaranteed in March. He is currently the only cornerback with a contract worth more than $25 million per season.

Gardner's overall resume is better than Stingley's, though Stingley is coming off a first-team All-Pro selection in 2024. Gardner held a spot on the All-Pro first team in his first two seasons.

Given that the market for cornerbacks has started to pick up over the past 12 months, starting with Patrick Surtain II's extension with the Denver Broncos last September, it would be smart for the Jets to act now rather than wait when the cost only figures to go up.

The Jets are entering a new era with Aaron Glenn taking over as head coach and Darren Mougey as general manager. They might want to see how Gardner fits in with their new scheme, but his ceiling is so high that it would be stunning if he weren't a foundational piece they try to build around going forward.