The NY Jets are poised to usher in a new era in 2025 with Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey leading the charge. As the team looks to retool its roster this offseason, they already have several key building blocks in place to build around.
One such player is Sauce Gardner. Despite his supposed "down year" in 2024, Gardner remains one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and is a cornerstone of the franchise. He's someone the Jets are hoping to keep in Florham Park for the foreseeable future.
The good news is that Gardner seems to feel the same way. The two-time All-Pro cornerback responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that both he and wide receiver Garrett Wilson "should be in the Jets' long-term plans."
Gardner agreed with the sentiment, as shown below.
i'm wit it💚 https://t.co/CHbOtpa3Gz
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) February 14, 2025
Sauce Gardner has no plans to leave the NY Jets
This isn't the first time Gardner has reaffirmed his long-term commitment to the Jets. The former Cincinnati star told reporters after the season that he "wants to be a part of the solution when it comes to turning this organization around, getting [the Jets] to the playoffs, and getting to the Super Bowl."
The Jets may not be very close to reaching that latter goal, but that's through no fault of Gardner. Despite talk of a disappointing season in 2024, Gardner was still among the elite players at his position.
Gardner actually allowed the fewest catches (25) of any qualified cornerback in the NFL this past season. He ranked sixth in catch percentage allowed, 14th in yards allowed, and second in fewest targets.
Penalties were an issue, as Gardner was flagged 10 times in 2024 — though that was still fewer than Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II, who was penalized 11 times.
His run defense also improved significantly as the season went on. Gardner missed just four tackles over his final nine games, recording 10 total run stops over that same timeframe. His tackling woes were largely limited to the first half of the season.
Amidst trade rumors surrounding Garrett Wilson's future, it's reassuring to see one of the Jets' young superstars publicly affirm their commitment to the organization. Gardner will be eligible for an extension this offseason and is expected to receive the largest cornerback contract in NFL history.
Gardner hopes to be in New York for the foreseeable future, and it's safe to say the Jets feel the same way.
