Sauce Gardner the General Manager? Jets' CB1 Names Two Receivers as Potential FA Targets

Will Joe Douglas take the player's advice and explore adding a Calvin Ridley type in free agency?

It's unclear as to whether Sauce Gardner has a "list," but the two-time All-Pro cornerback has some ideas for the New York Jets' front office.

Posting on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Gardner dropped a not-so-subtle hint that the Jets should target the wide receiver position in free agency. The lockdown cornerback presented the proposal while responding to a generally-posed question by a Jets' fan account. The X user asked, "Name a Free Agent no one is talking about that the #Jets should sign:"

Reposting the question and adding his answer, Gardner said, "Calvin Ridley & Tee [Higgins]."

In a wide receiver free agent class that lacks some pop, Ridley and Higgins are two of the more lustrous options that could command top dollar.

Ridley returned from a league-imposed one-year suspension for gambling and looked like the playmaker he was in Atlanta. The 2018 first-round draft pick started all 17 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars on his way to 1,016 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 76 catches. The 29-year-old's best season came in 2020 when he gained 1,374 yards receiving for the Falcons.

Higgins has finished up his rookie contract with the Cincinnati Bengals may be the most-coveted wide receiver amongst this year's free agent pool. After back-to back 1,000-yard receiving efforts, Higgins was banged up during the 2023 season and saw his numbers drop slightly. Over 12 games, he totaled 656 yards and five touchdowns on 42 grabs. The 25-year-old, who averages 14.3 yards per catch, has made at least five TD receptions in each of his first four NFL seasons.

Whether they can secure none, one or both of Gardner's two suggested additions, the Jets are in need of a boost at receiver. Outside of Garrett Wilson, and his second straight 1,000-yard receiving campaign, the Jets received minimal on-field production from their receiving corps in 2023.

After signing a four-year contract reportedly worth $44 million, Allen Lazard was New York's second-leading pass-catcher in the receivers' room. Lazard managed only 23 receptions on 49 targets, totaling 311 yards and one touchdown. The 28-year-old was a healthy scratch on three occasions.

Undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson was next after Lazard with 21 grabs for 229 yards. Aging veteran Randall Cobb offered little production, tallying five receptions for 39 yards and one score over 11 appearances.

Meanwhile, Gardner continued to build his reputation as one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. After earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl Games invitation, the 23-year-old Gardner became the first cornerback since 1970 to kick off his NFL career with back-to-back All-Pro First Team selections. PFF subsequently named the Jets' CB1 as the top graded cornerback in the league for 2023.

Analytics Site Confirms Sauce Gardner's Status

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