Sauce Gardner is proving himself every bit as advertised coming out of college, ranking near the top of the league among cornerbacks in most defensive categories in a stellar rookie season.
Is it too early to start dreaming big with Gardner becoming one of the great cornerbacks in Jets history? The likely holder of that title says he sees that potential.
“When you come in as a rookie, you want the elite players you're playing against to respect you, and the only way you do that is be a playmaker," Darrelle Revis told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I think Sauce has the word 'playmaker' written all over him.
“I think he has the potential to carry the torch on to be a great cornerback for the New York Jets. I think his ceiling is very high. I think he has all the tangibles. I think he has all the potential to continue to grow into a great player, a great corner and a great leader as he represents the New York Jets.”
Gardner has helped turn the Gang Green defense into one of the best in the league (much closer to where it was in Revis’ prime) after being one of the worst in the NFL last year, before he was drafted. He is one of the faces of the team’s bright young core that has the Jets off to a surprising 6-3 start, winning Rookie of the Week honors multiple times already this season.
It’s been enough to show Revis that he might be watching the next him when it comes to secondary success in New York.
“It seems like he’s a student of the game, and he’s ready to take any challenge on when it comes to playing at a high level,” Revis told Cimini.
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