Ahmad Gardner, the fourth pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has signed his rookie contract with the Jets.
Gardner’s fully-guaranteed, four-year rookie deal is worth $38.7 million and includes a $25.3 million signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Gardner’s contract also includes the standard fifth-year option for first round draft picks.
Gardner is the quickest Jets’ first-round pick to sign his rookie contract in the last 40 years, beating out Leonard Williams, who signed on May 8, 2015, by one day. Williams signed eight days after the conclusion of the draft, while Gardner signed 10 days post-draft.
Just three Jets first-round before Gardner and Williams picks have signed their rookie contracts in May since 1984. Defensive end Hugh Douglas signed on May 31, 1995, tight end Anthony Becht signed on May 25, 2000 and outside linebacker Quinton Coples signed on May 17, 2012.
Gardner was present and took part in the first day of rookie minicamp on Friday.
“Corner is very important, because it’s everything we talk about on third down and in crunch time when the whole world knows you’re passing the ball and the whole other side of the world knows you’re in man coverage and it’s a 1-on-1 football game,” Robert Saleh said after the first day of rookie minicamp. “That’s difference-making. Sauce has the ability to do that in man coverage, but has zone coverage ability. He has tenacity and tackling, which teams do to us.”
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