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New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner has been struggling this season, both on and off the field. On the field, he’s looked like a shell of his former Pro Bowl self. And off the field, he’s been routinely bickering with fans and journalists, tweeting and deleting responses to criticism of him.
The regression of Sauce Gardner this season has been so stark, in fact, that ESPN’s New York Jets beat writer Rich Cimini says it’s “really alarmed” the organization.
The Jets selected Gardner out of the University of Cincinnati with the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
On a recent episode of his Flight Deck podcast, Cimini reported that Gardner’s regression this season has “really alarmed” some within the organization, who are facing the task of a full rebuild this offseason, as they’ve got to hire a new general manager, head coach, and likely quarterback, too.
During his first two seasons in the NFL, Gardner was named to both the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro First-team. Neither of those selections seem likely this year, however.
In his rookie season, Gardner had career highs in tackles, tackles for losses, passes defensed, and interceptions. In 2023, those numbers were down across the board, although that was likely due to NFL offenses not throwing in his direction as much following his Rookie of the Year campaign the prior season.
On November 25, it was reported that the Jets had hired the 33rd Team, a firm co-founded by their former general manager Mike Tannenbaum, to assist in the search for their new GM. Despite his struggles this season, the incoming Jets regime will undoubtedly view Gardner as a core piece, as he’s still only 24 years old.