Sauce Gardner dug deep to acquire No. 1 from New York Jets teammate D.J. Reed. But the rookie said he didn’t drill down nearly as far as had been rumored on social media.

Gardner told reporters Tuesday at minicamp that acquiring his favored jersey number cost him $50,000.

While a hefty sum, that’s well below the $250,000 price tag reported on Twitter last month.

“It wasn’t worth that much,” Gardner said.

The 21-year-old also proved to be wise beyond his years in the transaction. He explained that he chose not to send Reed the 50 grand through Venmo. Instead, he wired his fellow corner the money.

As Gardner said on Twitter in May when responding to the 250k jersey swap rumor, “I’m not a goofy.”

Reed originally purchased No. 1 from safety Kai Nacua after he signed with the Jets as a free agent this winter. Whatever Reed paid for the number, it’s believed he made a tidy profit in the ensuing transaction with Gardner.

The former Seattle Seahawk switched to No. 4 after the deal. Free of charge.

Perhaps giddy after his deal with Gardner, Reed recently said it wasn't farfetched to think that the Jets — 4-13 last season — could win the Super Bowl this season.

Gardner has been practicing with the second-team defense during OTAs. Coach Robert Saleh said that the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft must earn the right to replace veteran Bryce Hall with the ones.

But every expectation is that Gardner and Reed will be the starting corners in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens. Each was brought in this offseason to upgrade a pass defense that was ranked 30th in the NFL last season.

Gardner got a taste of playing with the first unit Tuesday. He and Hall teamed up, while Reed worked with trainers on the side.

Last season, Gardner was a Consensus All American and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year at Cincinnati. He had nine interceptions in three seasons of college ball and did not allow a touchdown reception.

With numbers like that, perhaps Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich should have chipped in and bought No. 1 for their presumed stud corner.