The New York Jets now have the highest-paid corner in the NFL on the roster.
Sauce Gardner was handsomely rewarded after his third season by way of a $120.4 million contract extension. That new $30.1 million annual salary on his four-year extension makes him the new king of the corners.
ESPN NFL Insider Jeremy Fowler told me on “Boy Green Daily” that Gardner is among the most polarizing players in the NFL.
Some have him ranked as the best corner in football. Others have him outside of the top 10. In Fowler’s annual cornerback rankings voted on by a panel of coaches, league execs, and scouts, Gardner placed No. 5 best in the league.
In year No. 4, Gardner is in a new scheme with head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks running the shop. Expectations have never been higher for Gardner as he seeks a bounce-back season in 2025.
The Theme of Bounce-Back Seasons Could Characterize Jets Starting Corners
Gardner is clearly the straw that stirs the drink, but there are plenty of other names to highlight.
Michael Carter II, 26, received a three-year $30.75 million extension ahead of the 2024 season. At the time, it made him the highest-paid slot defender in the NFL.
The former Duke product’s first year under his new contract was an epic disaster. Carter missed four games due to injury, but bluntly, he should have missed more.
Instead of recovering from his injuries, Carter attempted to play through them, with less-than-desirable results.
Carter appeared in 13 games and made one start. He finished with the worst coverage grade (47.9) and overall grade (50.7) of his NFL career, per Pro Football Focus.
Instead of riding the bench to recover, Carter and the coaching staff tried to get creative. He started fewer games and was used in more of a rotational role (appearing in a career low 32% of the snaps).
Carter is seeking a return to his former glory.
During free agency, the Jets made a defensive splash, signing Brandon Stephens to a three-year $36 million contract.
Stephens was much maligned for his play last season. The Jets coaching staff believes in his traits and believes they can get the juice out of the orange.
The Rest of the Cornerback Room for the Jets
Gang Green has eight corners listed on its 91-man roster ahead of training camp.
That group includes two rookies.
Azareye’h Thomas, 21, was the No. 73 overall pick in the third round of April’s draft. Some thought he could have been a first-round draft choice, but he slid down the board because of his slow 40-yard dash time.
Jordan Clark, 24, was an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame who joined the Jets this offseason. He is the son of longtime NFL’er, Ryan Clark, who is now an NFL analyst for ESPN.
There is a group of second and third-year players with intriguing traits.
Jarrick Bernard-Converse, 25, originally joined the Jets as the No. 204 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. A versatile defender who showed a lot of pop in training camp and preseason last year.
Qwan’tez Stiggers, 23, was the story of the 2024 NFL draft. A player who never suited up in college, jumped to the CFL and became a raging success, and was selected on the third day of the NFL draft last year. Talented, driven, but will have to impress a new coaching staff this offseason.
Last but certainly not least is Isaiah Oliver. Oliver, 28, is a steady eddie veteran who can play all across the defensive secondary when called upon. It’ll be interesting to see how this new staff deploys him: just a safety, just a corner, or maybe both?
Pre-Training Camp 2025 Jets Position Preview: Cornerbacks