Sauce Gardner, the New York Jets’ dynamic cornerback, is poised to take the league by storm in Year 4 as a pro. Most of all, he challenges those around him to raise their standard of greatness off the field. Gardner, the fourth overall pick in 2022, had an immediate impact. Along the way, he became the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the first-team All-Pro roster. Gardner has all the skills necessary to become one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. He’s committed to polishing his game and assuming a leadership position as the Jets start a new season with new coaching and schemes.
Gardner’s notable blend of size and athleticism make him one of the best cornerback prospects in recent years. At 6-foot-3 with an arm length of 33½ inches, he’s equipped with the rare physique to be an absolute terror in his position. He further dazzled folks with a freakish 40-yard dash stomping a time of 4.41 seconds. Still, even a talent like Gardner had to overcome adversity last season. During his time as the nearest defender, he ranked 47th out of 52 corners in EPA per target and dead last in EPA allowed. He racked up nine accepted penalties, more than the seven he had in his first two seasons combined.
As Gardner looks back on the series, he admits that excellence is a moving target. “I know I’m not perfect, but the fact that he’s trying to get perfection out of me is what I need because, you know, I’ve had a lot of success, early success in the league,” Gardner stated. His dreams extend past his own fame and glory. He’s hellbent on picking off more passes this year after accumulating just three picks over his 48 game career.
As Gardner readies himself for the new environment, he expects to operate in a much more man-heavy scheme with the new staff than he did with Shurmur. What he has had is a wealth of discussions with defensive mastermind coach Glenn. They learned the true meaning of leadership, both on and off the field. “Here’s what I’ve talked to him about, about who he needs to be,” Glenn explained. He pointed out that the best kind of leadership is the kind shown through action—not just talk.
When you have to lead, let your influence speak for itself. What is your philosophy of how you run the huddle and the players in the locker room. That’s more than the rah-rah guy does,” Glenn counseled Gardner.
Gardner’s focus is on becoming a team captain. He is intentional about developing deeper connections with his teammates and sharpening their communication in the locker room. He recognizes that leadership isn’t just about encouraging words spoken publicly, but where one leads with the example of predictable excellence.
After taking a lot of flak over his penalties drawn and performance metrics, Gardner is still very positive on his career path going forward. “It’s never as bad as people try to paint it to be,” he remarked, showing resilience in the face of criticism. His sheer commitment is emblematic of anyone who dares to be the best version of themselves.
Gardner is hungry to prove that he deserves to be in the league long-term. He’s in the process of negotiating a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. This move has increased the hype and hope surrounding his production and impact on the field.
Gardner’s short career thus far has been historic indeed. He became the first cornerback—since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970—to receive first-team All-Pro accolades in his first two seasons. His unique blend of talent and ambition has made him one of the Jets’ most popular players, drawing comparisons to some of the franchise’s greats even at such a young age.
Well, Gardner knows he has support from his coaches and teammates. This year, he’s poised to take things to the next level! Above all, he wants to improve on his personal stat line by focusing on increasing interception totals and reducing penalties. He wants to play a big role in turning around the Jets’ fortunes.
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