Sauce Gardner Represented by Older Brother Allante in Jets Contract Talks amid Rumors

Star cornerback Sauce Gardner's older brother, Allante, is part of the team handling his contract discussions with the New York Jets, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"Allante isn't a certified agent yet, but he's the vice president of Vayner Sports, the firm that represents Gardner," Cimini reported Sunday. "Co-founder A.J. Vaynerchuk is handling the actual negotiations, with Gardner working behind the scenes. He knows football; he played at Saginaw Valley State and Lakeland University."

The Jets exercised Sauce's fifth-year option for his rookie contract on April 30, meaning that he'll carry cap hits of roughly $10.6 million in 2025 and $20.2 million in 2026 before becoming a free agent in 2027.

The cornerback is also eligible for a contract extension and confirmed that his representatives have started negotiating with New York when speaking to reporters on Thursday.

"My main focus has been being the best football player I can be, but my team and the Jets have been talking and, you know, I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going," Gardner said, per Cimini.

The 24-year-old made Pro Bowl appearances and earned All-Pro honors in both 2022 and 2023. While he didn't perform at the same level in 2024, he still recorded nine passes defensed and 49 tackles to go along with one interception.

Gardner also allowed a passer rating of 79.3 when targeted last season, per Pro Football Focus.

As he looks to secure his long-term future and work out an extension with the Jets, his brother has reportedly been involved in the process.