Ahmad Gardner

Indianapolis Colts, Cornerback

Age: 24y-6m-5d (Aug 31, 2001)

Exp: 3 Years

Country: US

College: Cincinnati

Drafted: Round 1 (#4 overall), 2022

Agent(s): AJ Vaynerchuk (VaynerSports)

2026 Cap Hit

$9,500,000

2026 Cash

$25,500,000

Career Earnings

$43,190,628

2025-2030 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

Ahmad Gardner signed a 4 year, $120,400,000 contract with the New York Jets, including $13,750,000 signing bonus, $85,403,473 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $30,100,000. In 2026, Gardner will earn a base salary of $5,250,000, a signing bonus of $20,000,000 and a workout bonus of $250,000, while carrying a cap hit of $9,500,000 and a dead cap value of $25,500,000.

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $120,400,000

Average Salary:

$30,100,000

Signing Bonus:

$13,750,000

GTD at Sign:

$40,500,000

Total GTD:

$85,403,473

Free Agent:

2031 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2025	24		$625,000	0.22%	$625,000	$625,000	$26,125,000
2026	25		$9,500,000	3.13%	$25,500,000	$26,125,000	$25,500,000
2027	26		$20,953,473	6.58%	$24,953,473	$51,078,473	-
2028	27		$26,200,000	7.83%	$20,200,000	$71,278,473	-
POTENTIAL OUT: 2029, 4 YR, $71,278,473; $0 DEAD CAP
2029	28		$36,100,000	9.90%	$30,100,000	$101,378,473	-
2030	29		$36,100,000	9.08%	$30,100,000	$131,478,473	-
2031	30	Void UFA	$2,000,000	0.46%	-	$131,478,473	-
2032		Void	-	-	-	$131,478,473	-
Accrued Dead Cap
2025	24		$8,758,263	3.14%	$14,381,299	-	-
2026	25		$11,000,000	3.63%	-	-	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Active/GM Roster Bonus	Option Proration	Workout Bonus	Cap Hit	Cap % League	Dead Cap
2025	24		$625,000	-	-	-	$625,000	0.22%	$26,125,000
2026	25		$5,250,000	-	$4,000,000	$250,000	$9,500,000	3.13%	$25,500,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $25,500,000 2026 Savings: $-16,000,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Savings: $9,500,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2026 Dead Cap: $25,500,000 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Savings: $-16,000,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $25,500,000 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Savings: $-16,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2026 Savings: $9,500,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027	26		$13,953,473	$750,000	$6,000,000	$250,000	$20,953,473	6.58%	-	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $20,953,473 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $20,953,473 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $20,953,473 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $20,953,473 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $20,953,473 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2028	27		$19,200,000	$750,000	$6,000,000	$250,000	$26,200,000	7.83%	-	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $26,200,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $26,200,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $26,200,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $26,200,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $26,200,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
POTENTIAL OUT: 2029, 4 YR, $71,278,473; $0 DEAD CAP
2029	28		$29,100,000	$750,000	$6,000,000	$250,000	$36,100,000	9.90%	-	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $36,100,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $36,100,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2030	29		$29,100,000	$750,000	$6,000,000	$250,000	$36,100,000	9.08%	-	2030 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $36,100,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $36,100,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $36,100,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2031	30	Void UFA	-	-	$2,000,000	-	$2,000,000	0.46%	-	2031 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $2,000,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $2,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Savings: $2,000,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2032		Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2032 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $0 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $0 POST-6/1 TRADE 2032 Dead Cap: $0 2033 Dead Cap: $0 2032 Savings: $0 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
Accrued Dead Cap
2025			$625,000	-	-	$6,299	$8,758,263	3.14%	-
2026			-	-	-	-	$11,000,000	3.63%	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Active/Gm Roster Bonus	Option Bonus	Workout Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2025	24		$625,000	-	-	-	$625,000	$625,000	$145,859,772
2026	25		$5,250,000	-	$20,000,000	$250,000	$25,500,000	$26,125,000	$130,853,473
2027	26		$13,953,473	$750,000	$10,000,000	$250,000	$24,953,473	$51,078,473	$105,353,473
2028	27		$19,200,000	$750,000	-	$250,000	$20,200,000	$71,278,473	$80,400,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2029, 4 YR, $71,278,473; $0 DEAD CAP
2029	28		$29,100,000	$750,000	-	$250,000	$30,100,000	$101,378,473	$60,200,000
2030	29		$29,100,000	$750,000	-	$250,000	$30,100,000	$131,478,473	$30,100,000
2031	30	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$131,478,473	-
2032	31	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$131,478,473	-
Retained/Dead Cash
2025	24	-	$625,000	-	-	$6,299	$14,381,299	-	$14,381,299
2026	25	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Contract Notes

$40.5M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2025 salary + 2026 compensation)
$25.5M 2027 compensation fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2026 (injury guaranteed at sign)
$20.2M 2028 compensation fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2027 (injury guaranteed at sign)
2026 Option Bonus: $20M
2027 Option Bonus: $10M
2027-2030 Per Game Active Bonus: $44,117 ($750,000)

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2026 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $33,450,801

Average Salary:

$8,362,700

Signing Bonus:

$21,507,856

GTD at Sign:

$33,450,801

Total GTD:

$33,450,801

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Seasons

3 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$43,190,628

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Awards
2022	21	Active	$22,212,856	$22,212,856	All NFL (1st) DROY
2023	22	Active	$2,225,491	$24,438,347	Afc Pro Bowl:CB All NFL (1st)
2024	23	Injured	$3,745,982	$28,184,329
2025	24	Active Retained	$625,000 $14,381,299	$28,809,329 $43,190,628
Total			$43,190,628	$28,809,329 $43,190,628
2026	25	Active	$25,500,000
2027	26	Active	$24,953,473
2028	27	Active	$20,200,000
2029	28	Active	$30,100,000
2030	29	Active	$30,100,000
Total			$174,044,101

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4		$3,185,000	$35,257,856	$4,116,473	-	$6,299	-	$42,565,628
1		$625,000	-	-	-	-	-	$625,000

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Restructure	Option	Workout	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2022	21	$705,000	$21,507,856				$22,212,856	$22,212,856
2023	22	$870,000		$1,355,491			$2,225,491	$24,438,347
2024	23	$985,000		$2,760,982			$3,745,982	$28,184,329
2025	24	$625,000 $625,000	$13,750,000			$6,299	$625,000 $14,381,299	$28,809,329 $43,190,628
Total		$3,810,000	$35,257,856	$4,116,473		$6,299	$43,190,628	$28,809,329 $43,190,628
2026	25	$5,250,000			$20,000,000	$250,000	$25,500,000
2027	26	$13,953,473			$10,000,000	$250,000	$24,953,473
2028	27	$19,200,000				$250,000	$20,200,000
2029	28	$29,100,000				$250,000	$30,100,000
2030	29	$29,100,000				$250,000	$30,100,000
Total		$100,413,473	$35,257,856	$4,116,473	$30,000,000	$1,256,299	$174,044,101

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4		$3,185,000	$35,257,856	$4,116,473	-	$6,299	-	$42,565,628
1		$625,000	-	-	-	-	-	$625,000

Injuries

Year		Weeks	Reason
2024	NYJ	18 - 18	Hamstring

Nov 04, 2025 Traded to Indianapolis (IND) from New York (NYJ) for 2026 1st round pick, 2027 1st round pick and Adonai Mitchell
Jul 15, 2025 Signed a 4 year $120.4 million contract extension with New York (NYJ)
Apr 21, 2025 New York (NYJ) exercised a $20.187 million option for 2026
Nov 24, 2023 Fined $10,927 Hit to a defenseless receiver against Buffalo (BUF)
May 07, 2022 Signed a 4 year $33.4 million contract with New York (NYJ)
Apr 28, 2022 Drafted by New York (NYJ): Round 1 (#4 overall)

Fines

Date		Reason		Fine Amount
Nov 24, 2023		Hit to a defenseless receiver against Buffalo (BUF)		$10,927
Fines: 1				$10,927

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Sack	Tackles Total	Tackles Solo	Tackles Assisted	FFum	Int
2025	IND	11	11	606	56.48	0	36	28	8	0	0
2024	NYJ	15	15	880	82.47	1	49	36	13	0	1
2023	NYJ	16	16	1,051	95.63	0	57	41	16	1	0
2022	NYJ	17	17	1,115	100.36	0	75	51	24	0	2

TRENDING PLAYERS

1 Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)
2 Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)
3 Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)
4 Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)
5 Trent McDuffie (CB, LAR)
6 Trent McDuffie (CB, LAR)
7 Drew Dalman (C, CHI)
8 Drew Dalman (C, CHI)
9 Maxx Crosby (DE, LV)
10 Maxx Crosby (DE, LV)
11 Jonnu Smith (TE, PIT)
12 Jonnu Smith (TE, PIT)
13 Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
14 Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC)
15 A.J. Brown (WR, PHI)

TRENDING PAGES

1 2026 Interior Defensive Linemen Free Agents
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3 NFL Transactions
4 NFL Transactions
5 NFL Cap Tracker

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2026 Interior Defensive Linemen Free Agents

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Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)

Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)

Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)

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Ahmad Gardner

2026 Cap Hit

2026 Cash

Career Earnings

2025-2030 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

2022-2026 Rookie

Seasons

Career Earnings thru 2026

Earnings w/ Different Teams

Earnings Per Year

Earnings Per Team

Earnings Per Team

Injuries

Fines

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