The market has undergone a reset, which has caught the attention of Sauce Gardner, a prominent player for the New York Jets.
Patrick Surtain II was awarded a groundbreaking $96 million contract by the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, September 4. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport stated that PS2’s new average salary of $24 million per year represents the most significant increase in pay since Jalen Ramsey’s 5-year, $100 million contract deal in 2020, which experienced a similar surge.
“My friend acquired a significant amount of money,” Gardner stated on his Twitter account in the past.
Gardner is projected to achieve significant wealth by the year 2025.
Joel Corry, a former sports agent, expressed on social media that Surtain’s recent agreement was “a much-needed and belated reestablishment of the cornerback market.”
He stated that the PS2 deal sets the foundation for Sauce Gardner to become the first defensive back in the NFL to earn $25 million per year in 2025.
Zack Rosenblatt from The Athletic concurred with that viewpoint. During the show “Flight Plan,” it was mentioned that Gardner’s new contract is expected to pay him a minimum of $25 million per year.
He stated that he anticipates Gardner to secure the contract, and the only potential obstacle would be if another cornerback surpasses Surtain’s deal before that time. In that case, Gardner would top whoever that is.
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The former Cincinnati product isn’t eligible to consider a contract extension until the conclusion of his third season in the NFL after 2024.
Jets Lock in a Key Piece of Their Dominant Secondary General manager Joe Douglas takes over the Jets back in 2019. His draft history with the team has been regularly questioned for some of his significant misses.
However, he deserves credit for one of his biggest hits. Michael Carter II was the No. 154 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Carter has become one of if not the best slot corners in the NFL. Now he is being paid like it after agreeing to a three-year deal with a maximum value of $33 million.
“Jets CB Michael Carter II becomes the first player drafted by GM Joe Douglas to receive a contract extension. It’s a great story—from a 5th-round pick out of Duke to a critical member of Robert Saleh’s defense and now the highest-paid nickel corner in the league,” NFL Insider Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team shared on social media.
Trevor Sikkema of Pro Football Focus declared this offseason on “One Jets Drive” that the Jets have the top cornerback trio in the NFL. He was referring Carter, Gardner, and veteran D.J. Reed.
Carter is paid, Gardner will be paid, Reed’s future with the team is questionable.
There is just so much cap space and to allocate that much of it to one spot would be exceptional. In other words 2024 will likely be Reed’s last season with the Jets.
Earlier this offseason Reed told the reporters that he intends to hit free agency in 2025. It was a very matter-of-fact comment by Reed but he maintained he carried no ill will against the team.
