By Chalien Dantes 

The New York Jets just secured their defensive future in a big way.

Fresh off locking up star receiver Garrett Wilson on Monday, the franchise made Sauce Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history Tuesday with a four-year, $60 million guaranteed contract extension. 

This deal keeps him in New York through 2030. With Gardner anchoring the secondary and Wilson leading the receivers, New York has its core in place for what could finally be the turnaround Jets fans have been waiting for.

The message couldn’t be clearer: after years of searching for an identity, these Jets are building around homegrown stars ready to bring winning football back to the Big Apple.