Jets' Sauce Gardner Says He and Garrett Wilson Have to Play Like They're 'Underpaid'

The New York Jets paid cornerback Sauce Gardner (four years, $120.4 million) and wide receiver Garrett Wilson (four years, $130 million) this offseason, but both players clearly aren't letting their contracts affect their hunger and desire to be great.

"Nobody's a bigger critic of me than myself, you know, so it's not something that throws me off guard because even though some people could say I'm being over-hated and stuff like that, I'm already so hard on myself," Gardner added, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Both players have fared quite well in the NFL on an individual level.

Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, led the NFL with 20 pass breakups in his rookie season. He earned First Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl and Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honors that year as well. Gardner followed that up by making the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro in 2023.

The 2024 season wasn't as good as his previous two (of note, he allowed a career-high 86.9 passer rating in his pass coverage, per Pro Football Reference), but Gardner will be just 25 when the season starts. He's very capable of returning to his shutdown form on a more consistent basis.

"I know there's a floor, but there ain't no roof," Gardner said while noting he needs to improve after the 2024 season. "Sky's the limit."

Wilson, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft, caught 101 passes for 1,104 yards and seven touchdowns. The 2022 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year has amassed at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his three seasons. He's also caught 279 passes for 3,249 yards and 14 touchdowns over his three-year career.

It's been a solid start to Wilson's career, but clearly he wants more, based on the fact that he doesn't feel as though he's accomplished anything yet. One could argue he has done so from an individual standpoint though.

From a team standpoint, it's understandable for Gardner and Wilson to want more. the Jets haven't made the playoffs since 2010. New York appeared on the way toward accomplishing that feat in 2022 after a 7-4 start, but the Jets lost their last six games to fall to 7-10. That was their record in 2023 before a 5-12 campaign last year.

Wilson and Gardner have now entered a new era, though, with head coach Aaron Glenn running the show and general manager Darren Mougey running the front office. Wilson also reunites with new quarterback Justin Fields, his old Ohio State teammate.

New York's season begins on Sunday, Sept. 7, when the team welcomes old quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers into town.