Jets Coach sounds good about Sauce Gardner’s struggles in 2024

Heavy on Jets

New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is having the worst year of his NFL career in 2024, but don’t tell that to his coach.

Cornerbacks coach Tony Oden emphatically told the media, “He’s still one of the best corners in the NFL, there’s no doubt about it.”

When asked how he thinks Gardner has played through the first seven games of the season, Oden said, “I think he’s done a good job.”

“Technically he (Gardner) has deteriorated, he has not produced as well as in recent years. Now he is no longer or less a target. According to our Next Gen Stats, he has been targeted 22 times in seven games. Last year he had 57 goals and last year he played 16 games. So it’s pretty much the same. He has given up 14 receptions for 232 yards and a touchdown this year. Last year, as the closest defender, it was 33 catches for 366 yards and two touchdowns,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini revealed on “The Flight Deck Podcast.”

The biggest problem for Gardner is the fines

“His sentences are up. He has four penalties for 48 yards. Last year he had five penalties for 50 all year. Of course he has no interceptions. His streak without an interception is 31 straight games. Now I get it, he’s not targeted often, but 31 straight games? That’s a lot and so you’re right. Sauce is not playing at the level he was in his first few years,” Cimini admitted.

When asked about Gardner’s increase in penalties, Oden shrugged and then said, “He has to play, I have to coach, and they (the referees) have to call it.”

A media member then asked if Gardner is playing differently this season, to which Oden bluntly said, “No.”

Gardner has a coverage grade of 70.9 through the first seven games of the season. That ranks No. 28 among all cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.

Interestingly enough, Gardner’s teammate, DJ Reed, is the No. 1 corner in the NFL in coverage grade (87.4), per PFF.

Jets will likely keep Gardner long term

“I think Sauce will eventually re-sign to a long-term deal (with the Jets). That’s just my feeling,” Cimini said.

Gardner will be eligible to discuss a contract extension for the very first time during the 2025 offseason. He was originally expected to become the highest-paid cornerback in football before the season.

Gardner is the only cornerback in the modern era to earn first-team All-Pro honors during his first two seasons. In 2022 and 2023 he was absolutely elite, but in 2024 there has been a decline.

It will be interesting to see how this offseason affects the value of a potential long-term deal with the green and white.

The No. 1 highest-paid corner in football is Miami Dolphins standout Jalen Ramsey, who is making an average of $24.1 million per year under his new contract. There is a clear upper echelon in the cornerback market with Ramsey and Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II ($24 million per year) and then there are everyone else.

The next highest-paid corner after Ramsey and PS2 is Jaire Alexander of the Green Bay Packers, who makes $21 million per season.

Paul Esden Jr. covers the New York Jets for Heavy.com. A native of New York, he is co-host of Cumulus Media’s morning show, “The Manchild Show with Boy Green.” Before Esden Jr. joined Heavy in 2021, he covered both national and New York sports for FanSided, Elite Sports NY and The Score 1260. More about Paul Esden Jr.