On Tuesday, the New York Jets signed Sauce Gardner to a four-year $120.4 million extension, putting him under contract in the Big Apple through the 2030 season.
Days later, ESPN’s Rich Cimini has revealed the full details of Gardner’s lucrative extension.
Guaranteed Money
According to Cimini, Gardner is guaranteed $40.5 million upon signing the contract, along with an official $13.75 million signing bonus. His contract ultimately totals $85.5 million in guarantees.
The other $30 million in guarantees stem from two option bonuses, one for $20 million in 2026 and one for $10 million in 2027.
Option bonuses function much like signing bonuses in terms of salary cap treatment, with one key distinction: they don’t take effect immediately. Instead, they’re triggered at a later date, typically a year or more after the contract is signed.
Gardner’s extension now ranks second among NFL corners in guaranteed money, just trailing Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans, who holds $89 million in total guarantees after inking a three-year $90 million deal earlier this offseason.
Yearly Cap Hits
Gardner’s new extension won’t take effect until the 2027 season, as he’s set to play out the final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and his fifth-year option in 2026.
He’ll carry a $9.4 million cap hit this season, which will rise to $12.25 million in 2026. Once the extension begins in 2027, Gardner’s cap charges jump to $23.7 million, followed by $28.95 million in 2028, $38.85 million in 2029, and $36.1 million in 2030.
Gardner’s extension secures a cornerstone of the Jets’ defense while offering cap flexibility in the short term.
