Jets predicted to give massive extension to 181-tackle, 2-time All-Pro defender

The New York Jets aren't currently among the league's best teams, but that doesn't mean they don't have some elite players. 

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Jets had three first-round selections and appear to have hit on all three. The first pick was used on star cornerback Sauce Gardner, who has developed into one of the best cover corners in the league. 

The team added Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johnson with the other two picks, and Wilson has evolved into an elite No. 1 receiver while Johnson is a serviceable pass-rusher. 

Since these players were drafted in 2022, the team will soon have to shell out some big extensions. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports recently identified the top extension candidate for each NFL team, and for the Jets, Sullivan went with Gardner. 

Regarding a possible Gardner extension, Sullivan offered the following:

New York has a trio of candidates that could soon be paid handsomely. While we are highlighting Gardner here, wideout Garrett Wilson and pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II (who were also selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft) are only under contract through the 2026 season. The former No. 4 overall pick won the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and has already been a two-time first-team All-Pro through the first three seasons of his career. Gardner's production in 2024 dipped slightly, but still held opposing quarterbacks to a 56.9% completion rate when targeting him. Whenever he does sign an extension, it'll likely reset the market. 

As Sullivan mentioned, Gardner's extension will likely reset the market. The corner has a real shot at becoming the highest-paid cornerback in the league.

Spotrac currently has Gardner projected to land a three-year deal worth $21.7 million annually. That could end up being too conservative, though, as the Houston Texans recently gave Derek Stingley Jr. $30 million annually.

In 2024, Gardner played in 15 games and collected 49 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one interception. The defender earned a 70.2 grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 47th out of 222 qualified corners. 

In Gardner's three-year career, he has already made two Pro Bowls and earned two First-team All-Pro selections. The defender has 181 tackles, 40 pass deflections, and three interceptions in his career. 

In 2025, Gardner will carry a cap hit of just over $10 million. The team picked up Gardner's fifth-year option, so the defender will then carry a cap hit of over $20 million in 2026 unless an extension is reached before then.