Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner sets sights on Defensive Player of Year
Jets' Sauce Gardner, right, talks with Breece Hall during practice at the NFL football team's training facility in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Credit: AP/Seth Wenig
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sauce Gardner achieved just about all of his individual goals in his first two NFL seasons. Now the Jets cornerback is chasing Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Gardner was the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, was named first-team All-Pro twice and made two Pro Bowls. He wishes the Jets would have made the playoffs those years. They might this season if Gardner has the kind of impact he believes he can and becomes the first Jet to win the top defensive honor.
“I want to make it to the point where I’m not just balling out and being the best at my position,” Gardner told Newsday after practice Monday. “I want to be the best overall this year.”
Only five cornerbacks have won the award since its inception in 1971: Mel Blount, Deion Sanders, Lester Hayes, Charles Woodson and Stephon Gilmore. Gardner already has gained the reputation as a shutdown cornerback and isn’t tested often. He had no interceptions last year, though, and he might need to prove he can take the ball away to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
Gardner has helped the Jets become one of the NFL’s top defenses. They were ranked last in the NFL and 30th in passing defense the year before he was drafted fourth overall, and they finished in the top four in both categories the last two seasons. The Jets were the No. 3 defense last year and the No. 2 passing defense.
“All the talk about you’re the best, it don’t matter,” Gardner said. “You just got to prove it. You got to prove it every week, every year. People can say whoever they want to say is the best corner, whether it’s me or whoever they name. But it’s a whole ’nother year.
“I know me personally, I got to get better, keep balling and go out there and do it again this season.”
To that end, Gardner said he began his offseason training much earlier than in previous years. He was back in the gym a week after the Jets’ season ended, and he said it has paid off because he really hasn’t felt sore in camp.
The most noticeable difference in Gardner is that he’s become more vocal. Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich have mentioned that he is becoming more of a leader and is trying to help bring along the younger players.
“His play style, his play demeanor, everything is elite,” Saleh said. “It’s taking it to the next level and getting everybody on his page and making sure that the standard of the defense is always high.”
Gardner is eligible for a contract extension after the season, and there’s very little doubt that he will be one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL, if not the highest. He said he’s not thinking about that and is focusing on helping the Jets win and win big this season.
“You never know what the market can do the next couple of years. You never know what could happen,” Gardner said. “It’s one of those things: I just want to make it far. I want to win championships.”
LT Smith misses practice
Left tackle Tyron Smith did not practice because of “tightness” in a “lower extremity,” Saleh said. He also sat out Saturday.
Smith’s health was a question mark when the Jets signed him. He missed 37 games the previous four seasons. The Jets have had Smith, 33, on a maintenance plan and have given him rest days.
“We just wanted to take a little extra precaution with him,” Saleh said. “This is just from his last practice. He should be back in tomorrow.”
Rookie Olu Fashanu has been filling in for Smith. The Jets have worked Fashanu exclusively at left tackle, but Saleh said he will get some reps on the other side so he’s prepared to be a swing tackle.
Reddick still absent
Ten practices into camp and still no Haason Reddick sighting. Saleh doesn’t sound concerned about Reddick needing time to play catch-up. He referenced other NFL defensive linemen who held out until Week 1 and still made an impact.
“It’s the last position I’m worried about getting caught up to speed,” Saleh said.
Reddick has forfeited nearly $1.5 million in fines and lost bonuses for skipping OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
