Sauce Gardner feels ‘actually good’ about Jets contract talks

In an attractive coincidence, Sauce Gardner expressed optimism that his contract talks with the Jets are headed in the correct route whereas standing in entrance of a backdrop promoting Money App.

Gardner participated in obligatory minicamp this week as an alternative of holding out and accepting a wonderful to ship a message about urgency and leverage in negotiations.

Veterans Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) and T.J. Watt (Steelers) try the other path.

“I simply needed to indicate my teammates and the coaches how a lot I’m purchased into this,” Gardner stated after Thursday’s apply. “I wish to win. I wish to be part of altering the group.”

Gardner’s first three seasons embody a Defensive Rookie of the 12 months award, two Professional Bowls and two First-Crew All-Professional picks.

He’s due $5.2 million this season and is underneath group management on a fifth-year choice in 2026.

The simple answer is to make Gardner the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback earlier than later and keep away from the flashbacks to standoffs with Jamal Adams and Darrelle Revis.

No must persuade head coach Aaron Glenn — a former Professional Bowl cornerback for the Jets — on the worth of lockdown protection.

That contract ceiling — occupied momentarily by the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. at a median annual wage of $30 million over three years — solely will proceed climbing, and Stingley (No. 3) and Gardner (No. 4) had been back-to-back picks within the 2022 draft.

There’s loads of room between Stingley and the No. 2 choice, Panthers’ Jaycee Horn ($25 million per 12 months over 4 seasons).

“My major focus is being the most effective soccer participant I may be,” Gardner stated, “however my group and the Jets have been speaking, and I really feel actually good about how the talks have been going. I don’t actually wish to get into the numbers.”

Normal supervisor Darren Mougey might play hardball and make Gardner wait one other 12 months, but it surely will get tough with receiver Garrett Wilson and Gardner on the identical contract timeline and just one franchise tag out there per offseason.

To not point out 2026 free brokers Jermaine Johnson and Breece Corridor.

“Since Day 1, [Wilson and I] got here right here saying we’ve to push one another as a result of we wish to assist the group,” Gardner stated. “In case you win in New York, it’s huge on your legacy individually, huge for the group.

“Quick-forward, we’re going into 12 months 4 collectively, and we at all times discuss competing at apply and the way we’ve to make one another higher as a result of we’re the constructing blocks for this group. We’re the homegrown expertise that A.G. talks about.”

Critics — and Gardner unusually has greater than most high gamers — say the 24-year-old star took a step again final season when he wasn’t named a Professional Bowler or an All-Professional.

And so they level to his low three-year interception complete of three in comparison with Singley’s 11.

“His commonplace is so excessive as a result of he’s such a distinct participant than everyone else on the sphere,” cornerback Michael Carter II stated. “He’s centered, locked in. His mindset doesn’t change come what may.”

Gardner appreciates the problem from Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks to chase perfection.

“I do know I’m not excellent,” Gardner stated, “however the truth that [Wilks] is making an attempt to get perfection out of me is what I want. I’ve had a variety of early success within the league, and the very last thing I want is a brand new regime to come back in right here and permit me to be complacent — not saying that’s who I’m. It’s nice to have these forms of guys who’re going to demand quite a bit out of me and push me in methods I’ve by no means been pushed earlier than.”

Gardner nonetheless seems like an “underdog” as a Cincinnati product.

“Everyone was saying, ‘He’s going to be an All-Professional,’ however they didn’t actually imagine that was going to occur till it occurred,” Gardner stated. “Then they shortly jumped ship. I’m actually used to it. I at all times really feel like I’ve one thing to show yearly.”

The brand new protection is predicted to be extra blitz-heavy and man-to-man-coverage primarily based than what Gardner beforehand skilled.

Is he prepared for a brand new function?

“I thank them each day as a result of they put me able to make performs,” Gardner stated. “Not me discovering methods to make performs and making an attempt to do Herculean issues. They’re placing me, the remainder of our secondary and our entire protection able to make performs.”

And playmakers receives a commission huge bucks.