Sauce Gardner Ready for Aaron Rodgers to Take the Reins

One year after being picked fourth overall, the New York Jets' cornerback spoke about his team's new QB during NFL Network's Draft coverage

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner got his wish when quarterback Aaron Rodgers officially joined the New York Jets.

Gardner, who visibly campaigned for the Rodgers trade using his Instagram and Twitter accounts, was present at the NFL Draft site in Kansas City on Thursday and spoke about Gang Green’s new starting signal caller during an appearance on NFL Network.

On the set of NFL Network’s “Draft Kickoff Live,” Gardner answered a question about Rodgers from analyst Charles Davis.

“The way that we think about it as a secondary, as a defense, A-Rod's just gonna get us better everyday in practice,” said Gardner, the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Gardner then mentioned preparing for the Jets’ 2022 regular season meeting with the Rodgers-led Packers.

“Last year game-planning against him, it was hard. You never know who he’s gonna throw the ball to on third down, you know, it was pretty hard,” said the second-year pro.

Behind a suffocating defensive effort, the Jets handled the Packers, 27-10, during Week 6 at Lambeau Field.

Gardner recorded three solo tackles and three passes defensed for a unit that limited Rodgers to a puny 5.6 yards per pass. The Jets’ CB1 celebrated the win by wearing a novelty cheesehead on the field in front of the Green Bay faithful.

Davis asked about the status of the souvenir during “Draft Kickoff Live.”

“I burned it,” said Gardner, who subsequently revealed that his backyard was the site of the blaze.

Gardner, who starred at Cincinnati, was the No. 4 overall selection at the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas. The confident quarterback matched up well against elite receivers such as Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill as a rookie. He totaled 75 stops, two interceptions and 20 passes defended.

READ MORE:

Jets and Packers Finalizing Aaron Rodgers Trade

Sauce Adds Extreme Heat to His Rodgers Recruitment Campaign

Sauce Spearheads Twitter Campaign Wooing Rodgers

Sauce Sighting at the NFL Combine

Jets Country Draft News Page

Jets' 2023 Draft Selections Updated after Rodgers Trade