The Untold Secrets Behind the Sauce Gardner Deal That Could Shake the NFL Landscape

8. 2027 base salary: .953 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026.

12. 2028 per-game roster bonus: 0,000 total, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027 (but must be earned).One last point. Stingley pushed the bar up by million per year, over Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn. Gardner has nudged it by only 0,000 per year.13. 2029 workout bonus: 0,000.16. 2030 workout bonus: 0,000.18. 2030 per-game roster bonus: 0,000 total.

14. 2029 base salary: .1 million.For Stingley, the total guarantee is million, with million fully guaranteed at signing, million fully guaranteed by 2026, and the full million vesting by 2027.1. Signing bonus: .75 million, paid in full by September 30, 2025.6. 2027 option bonus: million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026.When a fresh contract drops, it’s a moment for the NFL world to snap to attention — especially when it’s a cornerback like Sauce Gardner locking down a deal that looks, on paper, like it shatters the mold. The Jets and Gardner didn’t just ink any old extension; they crafted what seems to be a landmark pact in cornerback contracts. Yet, as I peeled back the layers, the picture got murkier — it’s not all straight wins and clear-cut victories. There’s nuance in the guarantees, timing, and the real cash flow that sets Gardner’s new deal apart from the rest — particularly when you stack it up against Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., who, despite fewer years on his contract, secured more airtight guarantees and a heftier early-year payout. Gardner’s deal, while impressive, is a chess match of numbers and timing, underscored by his rollercoaster 2024 season and what the Jets gambled on locking him in now rather than later. It’s a fascinating saga with real implications on how elite cornerbacks are valued today — and what the future holds for the game’s top defenders. LEARN MORE11. 2028 base salary: .2 million, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027.5. 2026 base salary: .25 million, fully guaranteed.Second, Stingley has better guarantees than Gardner, despite being under contract for one fewer year.3. 2026 option bonus: million, fully guaranteed.The Jets and Sauce Gardner have worked out a new deal. On the surface, it’s the best deal ever signed by an NFL cornerback.9. 2027 per-game roster bonus: 0,000 total, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026 (but must be earned).4. 2026 workout bonus: 0,000, fully guaranteed (but must be earned).First, the details. Here they are, per a source with knowledge of the terms:It’s still a great deal for Gardner, who had a down year in 2024. The new regime easily could have waited until 2026 to re-do the deal. Of course, if/when Gardner had gotten back to his form of 2022-23, it would have cost a lot more if they had opted to kick the can for a year.At a deeper level, it’s open to interpretation.17. 2030 base salary: .1 million.10. 2028 workout bonus: 0,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2027 (but must be earned).The new-money APY of .1 million beats Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. by 0,000 per year. However, there are some key differences.7. 2027 workout bonus: 0,000, guaranteed for injury at signing and fully guaranteed in March 2026 (but must be earned).First, Stingley signed a three-year extension. He’s under contract for five years, not six.Stingley also has better cash flow in the early years, with million more in 2026 and .3 million more through 2027.2. 2025 base salary: .25 million, fully guaranteed.For Gardner, the total guarantee is .65 million, with .5 million fully guaranteed at signing, .45 million fully guaranteed by 2026, and the full .65 million vesting by 2027.15. 2030 per-game roster bonus: 0,000 total.