It’s been a long, long time since folks thought of the New York Jets as a winning or model franchise.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner thinks he could change that.
Gardner, a cornerback out of Cincinnati, is expected to be picked relatively early Thursday in the first round of the NFL Draft. A smothering defender, Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. represent arguably the two best options at the position this year.
It’s plausible, if not likely, that he will be available at pick No. 4, which belongs to the Jets. The constantly rebuilding Jets showed signs of finding their footing in fleeting moments last season, and appear intent on changing their fortunes in a rapidly improving AFC East.
During an appearance Tuesday on the "Rich Eisen Show" Eisen explained to Gardner the "same old Jets" mantra before asking the 21-year-old how he would change that culture of underachieving.
“If I go to a team that’s the same old anything, I’m going to change it," Gardner responded. "If they mean that in a bad way, then I feel like I’m the change. I’m the person that’s going to do everything – any and everything – so we can win and turn the program around. That’s how I feel about that.
“I’m not going to come here and get used to the norm. The same old anything, if they mean that in a bad way, then I’m not about to come be a part of it, I'm about to come try to change it in a better way.”
While cornerback undoubtedly is a position of need for the Jets, it’s far from the only high priority. Every time a receiver has been available this offseason, they’ve been linked to him, and they also could stand to add an edge rusher, of which there are many quality options in this draft. In our latest mock draft, we do have Gardner going to the Jets.
Gardner is skilled and by all accounts a fantastic teammate. Maybe that will be enough to get him in green.
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