The New York Jets are attempting to make franchise history with their contract extensions.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport shared the latest on Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner’s talks with the team.
“I wouldn’t actually be surprised if the Jets do [their contracts at] similar timing. They’re both faces of this organization, they came in the same draft class, they’re friends, so it makes sense to do them at the same time. So certainly something to look forward to for the Jets and Jets fans before the season,” Rapoport said on “The Insiders.”
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Jets have been in contract talks with their young stars, Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, and both could end up with huge deals around the same time. pic.twitter.com/OZNYFZGcJ9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 13, 2025
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“It certainly appears when Sauce Gardner signs his new deal, and I really do expect the Jets to get this done at some point before the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the highest-paid corner or at least right there with Derek Stingley. His deal really shouldn’t be that difficult to do. He is a great player, one of the faces of their franchise. Derek Stingley signed a three-year $90 million dollar deal this offseason. If it gets there, I would imagine it gets done, maybe a little above that,” Rapoport added. “Garrett Wilson is also in line for an extension.”
Gardner Provides More Details on Jets Contract Talks
Gardner and Wilson, unlike other players around the league, chose to show up to the offseason programs instead of holding out.
“Man, I just wanted to show up for my teammates and show the coaches how much I’ve bought into this. I want to win, I want to change the organization, and I want to be a part of changing the organization,” Gardner told the media.
The Jets hold Gardner’s rights for the next two seasons after accepting his fifth-year team option this offseason.
“Yeah, I’m letting my team handle that. My main focus is being the best football player I can be, but my team and the Jets have been talking. I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going,” Gardner explained.
The Jets want to extend Gardner; that isn’t a question, but rather the question is how big this contract will be.
“I don’t really want to get into the numbers,” Gardner responded with a smile when asked if it’s important to him to become the highest-paid corner in football. “I just want to play football.”
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt have reported that Gardner is seeking to become the highest-paid CB in the NFL.
Perception Has Changed Some in the Jets Fan Base
Through Gardner’s first two seasons, he was a first-team All-Pro. Fans wanted the team to re-sign him, and he was the belle of the ball.
Last season, he didn’t receive those same accolades, and people came after him on social media.
“them fake & forced narratives can’t stop reality. been one of them ones🤫,” Gardner quote-tweeted a Pro Football Focus ranking that put him as the top corner in the league.
them fake & forced narratives can’t stop reality. been one of them ones🤫 https://t.co/PJtN9Ajl3E
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) June 3, 2025
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“I feel like there has always been noise surrounding me after each of my years that I’ve played. I’ve always been like the underdog, I went to Cincinnati obviously, and everybody was saying yeah he’s gonna become an All-Pro, but they ain’t really believed that was going to happen until it happened. Then they quick to jump ship. I’m used to it, and I always feel like I got something to prove each and every year,” Gardner said.
The Jets’ 2022 draft class was historic. Now it’s time, or close to it, to pay the piper.
Gardner revealed to the media that “for sure,” he and Wilson have talked about remaining Jets for life.
“We like the building blocks of the organization, we [are] the home-grown talent that AG talks about,” Gardner said confidently.
