Jets Country

Sauce Gardner Hot Topic Around the NFL Heading into Second Season

Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year earns more praise one week after landing on SI cover

Ralph Ventre

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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The Sauce Gardner hype continues to bubble.

Another NFL talking head unveiled the words of an AFC scout lauding the New York Jets' second-year cornerback. Jordan Schultz, who covers the League for theScore, quoted a hot take on Gardner in "Examining primary strengths: AFC East." 

"He's Richard Sherman, he's Deion (Sanders), he's (Darrelle) Revis; he's all those guys. You're combining a very technically sound cornerback with size and instincts. I think that's why he's so good, so soon," said the AFC North scout through Schultz.

Jets' general manager Joe Douglas provided a similar assessment of Gardner shortly after the team drafted the Cincinnati product at No. 4 overall in 2022.

"Sauce can do everything. He can play zone, he can play man, he can win in crunch time, he can run with the fastest guys, he can defend the biggest guys. He’s elite and really fortunate that we got him at four," said Douglas.

As a rookie, Gardner started all 17 regular season games. Going up against the likes of star receivers Stefon Diggs and Tyreek Hill, the 6-foot-3 cornerback racked up 20 passes defended, 75 tackles and two interceptions in 2022. 

Meanwhile, Schultz's report came only one week after Gardner landed the Sports Illustrated cover story. 

READ Sports Illustrated's Special Sauce Issue Features Jets' Cornerback on Cover

To traditionalists, the SI cover signals a special greatness that only a fortunate few have experienced. Former Jets greats such as Joe Namath, Darrelle Revis and Keyshawn Johnson have graced the cover of the magazine, which launched back in 1954.

NFL fans have had their fill of Sauce throughout the offseason.

The second-year pro made NFL Network appearances at the both the Combine in early March and the Draft in late April.

In February, Gardner was a distinguished guest at the NFL Honors ceremony where he received the League's Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The shutdown defensive back also earned All-Pro accolades as a first-year player.

Gardner also stepped into the spotlight by attending a New York Knicks' playoff game on May 2 as part of an Aaron Rodgers-led contingent. 

It was Gardner who took social media by storm with the successful attempt to recruit Rodgers to the Jets. From the tagged tweets to the ceremonious burning of the cheesehead live on YouTube, Gardner was an active pitch man for the four-time NFL MVP. 

Like it, or not, Sauce Gardner has become a star while playing in the mega media market that is New York.

Purchase your copy of Sauce on the SI cover HERE.

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Ralph Ventre
RALPH VENTRE

Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20 years of media experience to the New York Jets beat. Prior to concentrating on Gang Green, he covered the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation. Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards. The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America. The veteran sports media professional resides in his native state of New Jersey.

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