The New York Jets officially opened mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, and one of the team’s brightest stars was exactly where fans hoped he'd be — on the field.
Despite ongoing contract talks and a push to become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, Sauce Gardner reported to Florham Park, joining his teammates for the start of minicamp and sending yet another clear message about the team’s culture change under new head coach Aaron Glenn.
Gardner’s presence is a stark contrast to the holdout headlines surfacing elsewhere around the league, where stars like T.J. Watt, Trey Hendrickson, and Terry McLaurin are absent amid their own contract disputes.
But while many of the league's top stars remain away from their respective teams, much like Haason Reddick was with the Jets last year, Gardner is proving that things are different in Florham Park.
Sauce Gardner is proving he's part of the NY Jets culture change
Gardner is seeking a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, and by all accounts, he’s earned it. The 2022 No. 4 overall pick has been a cornerstone of the Jets’ defense since the moment he arrived, earning first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons.
Even in what was undoubtedly a “down year” by his standards in 2024, Gardner still allowed the fewest catches (25) of all qualified cornerbacks. With the Jets now expected to lean more heavily on man coverage under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Gardner could become even more valuable in 2025.
Gardner wants to be the highest-paid player at his position, a figure that would likely land around the $30 million-per-year range. And yet, despite that lofty goal and the lack of a finalized deal, the 24-year-old showed up without hesitation.
It’s the latest sign that he’s as committed to the team’s future as the team is to his. Gardner previously told reporters earlier this offseason that he wanted to be a "Jet for life."
The same is true for Garrett Wilson, who is extension-eligible and has done nothing but show up and show out all spring. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year has put together three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons despite abysmal quarterback play.
Still, neither Wilson nor Gardner has let contract negotiations become a distraction, and that’s what stands out most. A year ago, the aforementioned Haason Reddick skipped minicamp and held out into October. Aaron Rodgers infamously missed minicamp for a pre-planned vacation to Egypt.
The Jets were an undisciplined mess at times under Robert Saleh. That’s no longer the case. Glenn’s arrival has brought a newfound sense of accountability, and the team’s stars are buying in.
Gardner’s appearance at minicamp is a statement that this Jets team is different and that belief in Aaron Glenn’s vision is already spreading.
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