The first of the Jets’ draft picks is under contract, with the team leading off its 2022 round of pick signings by inking Sauce Gardner to his four-year rookie accord Saturday.
Gardner’s deal includes the customary fifth-year option, giving the Jets a half-decade to determine his path. Gardner living up to his draft slot would mean a monster extension one day, and Gang Green would likely be fine with this outcome. For at least three seasons, however, Gardner will be tied to his rookie contract. Gardner’s four-year deal is worth a fully guaranteed $38.7MM, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
The team has swung and missed on a few cornerbacks in recent years — from its second Darrelle Revis contract to Trumaine Johnson‘s deal — and largely opted against notable investments at the position under GM Joe Douglas. That changed this year, when the team used the No. 4 overall pick on Gardner, who did not allow a touchdown while in coverage at Cincinnati. Gardner was a key reason Cincinnati broke the Group of Five barrier by earning a College Football Playoff slot, leading a brigade of Bearcats in being drafted last week. Gardner, 21, intercepted nine passes during his three-year career at the American Athletic Conference school.
New York’s Gardner pick ran counter to the way Robert Saleh‘s defenses were staffed in San Francisco and how Seattle fills its cornerback posts, with each team preferring to bet on mid- or lower-level corner investments rather than use top draft capital on the position. But the Jets ranked last defensively in both yards and points allowed in Saleh’s debut. They have both added Gardner in the draft and signed ex-49er and Seahawk D.J. Reed to address the previously understaffed position.
I had no idea until draft night his nickname came from loving dipping sauces as a kid. I assumed it was a joke about being really good at covering.
That’s not how it happened. Mike Greenberg during draft day coverage said it came from his childhood coach who called him A1 sauce sweet feet Gardner. He was 6 years old playing with 7-8 year olds. This is confirmed by Gardner himself here
link to m.youtube.com
I’ll be damned
Who told you it was from loving dipping sauces? What draft night were you watching? Not trying to bust your balls, I like a lot of your posts. We’re fellow Jets fans and I assume New Yorkers. But that’s a big Oooof right there
I was watching ESPN. Of course, I also had Covid at the time, so maybe it was a fever dream.
Edit: I also just looked it up and saw a CBS story where he himself cites more than one story, including yours and one about sauces.
Fair enough. Hope you’re okay now
who got tha sauce. jets got tha sauce.
He will leave a stain on the field.