The Jets took care of their young star Garrett Wilson on Monday, and 24 hours later, their other star from the 2022 NFL Draft has been secured for years to come.
The Jets cornerback announced on his own X account that he had agreed to a new deal with New York, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport followed that up with a report that Gardner and the Jets have agreed to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension, a record-breaking contract that will make Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in league history.
Derek Stingley was previously the highest-paid corner in football, making $30 million per year. Darren Mougey and the Jets have reportedly paid Gardner just over that mark for the next four years.
With both Wilson and Gardner paid and secured moving forward, the new Jets regime has avoided potential training camp distractions and questions about the franchise’s future.
Gardner, the 4th overall pick in 2022, was an All-Pro each of the first two seasons in the NFL, and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. Last year was a down year to his standards, logging one interception and nine passes defended in 15 games. But at 24 years old, Gardner is already considered one of the better corners in the game, with room to grow into an elite one during the span of his new contract.