T.J. Watt of the Steelers, Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals and Terry McLaurin of the Commanders are among the many big-name gamers who held out of obligatory minicamp this spring in hopes of receiving a contract extension.
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner can be eligible for a contract extension.
However not like that trio, the two-time All-Professional didn’t contemplate lacking Gang Inexperienced’s obligatory minicamp.
“Man, I just wanted to show my teammates and show the coaches how much I’m bought into this,” Gardner stated. “I wish to win, I wish to be a part of altering the group.
“We got a new regime in AG [Aaron Glenn] and his coaching staff. And I feel like Mr. Johnson did a great job of getting those types of guys to be here. And I feel like he did a good job of changing the culture.”
Throughout his three seasons within the league, Gardner, 24, has been among the best cornerbacks within the NFL. He has two first-team All-Professional and Professional Bowl alternatives and was named the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Yr, which is why the Jets are in talks for an extension.
Gardner declined to say if he needs to be the highest-paid cornerback within the NFL. At present, that title belongs to the Texans’ Derek Stingley Jr., who acquired a three-year, $90 million extension in March, which included $89 million in assured cash.
“I’m letting my team handle that,” Gardner stated. “My most important focus is being the perfect soccer participant I may be.
“My team and the Jets have been talking and I feel pretty good about how the talks have been going.”
Gardner is coming off a considerably disappointing 2024 season. Along with the Jets ending with a 5-12 report, Gardner’s play declined in comparison with his first two seasons.
When opposing quarterbacks focused Gardner final season, they accomplished 56.9% of their passes and had an 86.9 passer score, in response to Professional Soccer Reference. Moreover, penalties and tackling had been points for him.
Gardner registered a missed sort out charge of 17.5%, in response to Professional Soccer Focus, rating him eightieth out of 96 certified cornerbacks. He additionally dedicated 11 penalties, in comparison with solely 5 throughout his first two seasons.
“I felt like I played pretty smooth,” Gardner stated about his efficiency final season. “In any case of my years, I all the time suppose that there are issues that I may be higher on.
“You know, it’s never as bad as it as bad as people try to paint it to be. We’re talking about a social world, an online space where, you know, the negativity is what’s going to grab all the attention. So, you know, that’s just what that is.”
Due to his struggles final season, Gardner has been a goal on social media. Followers have known as him every little thing from “overrated” to a “holding merchant.” Nevertheless, Gardner doesn’t have an additional chip on his shoulder due to all of his naysayers.
“It’s always been noise surrounding me,” Gardner stated. “Every of my years that I performed, I all the time been just like the underdog. I went to Cincinnati, clearly, and everybody was saying, ‘He’s going to be an All-Professional,’ however they ain’t actually imagine that was going to occur till it occurred.
“And then, they are quick to jump ship, so I’m really used to it. I always feel like I have something to prove each and every year. I felt like I had something to prove going into the league, after my first year, after my second year, and my third year.”
Gardner says he all the time believes there are elements he can enhance on. Amongst these are registering extra interceptions. In 48 video games, Gardner has three interceptions, however has been among the many league leaders in cross defended throughout that point.
“That’s finishing as we talked about and he’s been working on that for us,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks stated about Gardner. “Taking extra time with the jugs and getting further catches in and understanding how one can catch the ball away out of your physique, identical to a receiver would do.
“I always say this, and I know there’s a lot of talk about him, but he’s only going to be as good as the guys around him, so it’s all about trying to make sure that we all, particularly on the back end, push in the same direction.”
Gardner additionally needs to turn out to be a simpler chief each inside and out of doors the Jets’ locker room. He needs to be the participant his teammates come to for recommendation and lead by instance.
Glenn has remodeled the Jets from one of many extra skilled groups within the league to one of many youngest this offseason, due to the roster turnover. However he has been impressed with how Gardner has carried out himself with the teaching workers and his teammates.
“Here’s what I want Sauce to do, when you do lead, let your influence do all the talking,” Glenn stated. “Like, how do you use within the huddle with the gamers, within the locker room. That speaks greater than the rah, rah man.
“He understands that as a result of affect to me is what actually management is about. How do you affect your teammates? How do you affect folks round you, it doesn’t matter what?
“I think he’s done a really good job with that.”
