Gang Green Nation
The Jets are looking to keep the star cornerback in New York long-term.
Late last week news broke that the Jets are attempting to negotiate contract extensions with Garrett Wilson and Sauce Garnder. How much will it cost? We discussed the cost of a hypothetical Wilson extension a little while back. So let’s focus on Gardner.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini had the following to say.
Gardner has professed his desire to stay with the Jets long-term. The Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr. raised the ceiling with his three-year, $90 million extension. Gardner is thought to be seeking at least that much.
Gardner was an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, but his play tailed off last season, as it did for many of the Jets’ defenders. Nevertheless, he’s still regarded as one of the top corners, an essential position in coach Aaron Glenn’s man-heavy scheme.
It’s tough to find more of an apples to apples comparison for Garnder than Stingley. The two play the same position and were selected one pick apart in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Stingley indeed just received a 3 year contract worth $90 million with $89 million of that guaranteed.
Gardner is coming off a disappointing season, but he has a pair of First Team All Pro nods in his first three seasons compared with one for Stingley. So it’s fair to say Gardner has had the better start to his career, although Stingley was held back a bit by injuries in his first two years.
Does $30 million make sense? That figure is logical to me. Again, Stingley is a comparable for Gardner. Given Sauce’s greater success you could make a case that he should make a bit more.
Going beyond direct comparsions with Stingley, however, it’s worth thinking about Gardner’s actual job. He is paid to shut down top receivers.
Currently eight wide receivers have salaries of $30 million or more. If that’s what elite receivers make, to me it would logically seem an elite player capable of eliminating them is worth a similar amount.
