Can This Jets DB Return to Form This Season?
Sauce Gardner has been one of the most intriguing and exciting players in recent memory for the New York Jets. His first two seasons in New York were some of the best a young cornerback could have, including a rookie season where he won Defensive Rookie of the Year. During those two seasons, fans and analysts alike compared Gardner to Jets legend Darelle Revis. In his third season, he was met with a bit of turmoil, with offenses figuring out how to tap into Gardner’s weaknesses. This season, Gardner is headed into a contract year and looking for an extension to keep him a Jet for the next several years.
In 2024, Gardner had a forgettable season full of mistakes. While Gardner ranked in the top 15 cornerbacks in expected points added per target as the nearest defender during his first two seasons, he dropped to 47th in 2024. Gardner also committed more penalties last season than he did in his first two seasons combined. His less-than-impressive 2024 season also included 25 receptions allowed, 98th among corners, and 42 solo tackles, 61st among corners. He ended the season with a 70.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, down from 88.6 overall in 2023.
With a new coaching regime, Gardner has big expectations to live up to in 2025, regardless of whether the Jets can work out an extension with him or not. New defensive coordinator Steve Wilks told Gardner that he expects perfection out of him this season, which pushes Gardner to be everything that he can be and get back to where he was. While Wilks believes that Gardner is one of the best at his position, he expects a sort of consistency that Gardner has been unable to achieve so far. When talking about Gardner, Wilks said, “He's a guy that sometimes at 85%, he's still better than everybody around him. So his thing is -- and I told him, 'compete against yourself.' That's where he has to get better, which he will." Considering the Jets will be running a very man-heavy approach this season, Gardner is bound to get more playing time, more snaps, and a better chance to represent himself as the player he could be, and the player he’s shown he can be.
