The NFL season is a week away from getting started. The Cincinnati Bearcats had a record-breaking class last year as nine Bearcats were taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. One of those Bearcats was young stud corner Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. Gardner was taken 4th overall by the New York Jets and seen as a player who could help the New York Jets become a winnow team and become a leader not only on the field, but in the locker room too. The Jets announced last week that Gardner would be a starter and is expected to make an immediate impact. Let’s take a look at what the Jets could throw out in Week 1 and where Sauce slides in.
The Jets defense could be a very talented group this year. They have a very talented defensive line in Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers on top of having rookie Jermain Johnson to go along with it. The Jets also have solid linebackers that could help the young core of their defense get better. Players like Kwon Alexander, C.J.Mosely and LaMarcus Joyner will help young guys like Sauce get better in the NFL and become one of the best young corners in the game. Sauce is projected to slide into the left corner spot in the New York depth chart which would give him opportunities to face number one and two options for different NFL teams. He had an impressive preseason as he finished with zero targets on 24 coverage snaps which was the most coverage snaps without a target by any cornerback in the NFL this preseason. Gardner will start off his regular season NFL debut against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. He will more than likely be on young WR Rashod Bateman who could be a breakout candidate in the NFL this year. Week 1 will be exciting for the highest draft pick in Bearcats history.
