NY Jets’ Sauce Gardner reveals major change to his role for 2024

Sauce Gardner says his role at cornerback will be different in 2024

Sauce Gardner may be adding more to his plate in 2024.

Appearing on “The Shop” alongside Lebron James, Travis Scott, Ice Spice, and Chad Johnson, the New York Jets’ superstar cornerback said that he will be traveling with wide receivers next season.

“Everybody gets tired, but I want to travel. I’m going to be traveling this year, so stay tuned for that. I already talked to my defensive coordinator about it.”

Gardner also said that being a “competitor” is the main reason he wants to travel and acknowledged that it could lead to a bigger payday in the future.

This change would be a deviation from what the Jets have done in the past on defense. With a talented cornerback duo of Gardner and D.J. Reed, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich keeps the two outside corners on their respective sides of the field: Gardner on the left, Reed on the right. He rarely allowed Gardner to travel, even if the game’s flow suggested it would benefit the team.

Gardner is more than capable of succeeding in a traveling role if given the chance. According to PFF, Gardner allowed a 49.9 passer rating in man coverage last season, ranking sixth-lowest out of 100 qualified cornerbacks. Over 188 snaps in man coverage, Gardner allowed just six receptions and zero touchdowns.

How often Garnder will travel with receivers in 2024 remains to be seen. If he is allowed to do it consistently, Gardner will have an opportunity to prove he is a true lockdown “island” defender like Darrelle Revis was in his prime.

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