How will the Jets look to replace Sauce Gardner?
Back in July, the Jets announced that they had signed Sauce Gardner to a four-year contract extension which, general manager Darren Mougey said, “will keep him with the Jets for the foreseeable future”. Less than three-and-a-half months later, they were announcing that Gardner had been traded to the Indianapolis Colts.
At the time of the extension, Garnder had said he wanted to “be a part of changing the organization”. However, Tuesday’s blockbuster trade, which netted the Jets two first round picks and young wideout Adonai Mitchell, was reportedly a complete surprise to Gardner.
For the Jets to make this move, though, they must have a plan in place for their cornerback position. Mougey admitted that Gardner’s deal had deliberately been structured in such a way that afforded them the opportunity to trade him if the circumstances dictated that. The Jets’ 1-7 record and the fact that the Colts were offering a healthy return in exchange for him mean that deciding to start over at the position is a logical choice, regardless of whether there were any misgivings about his fit within the Jets’ system and culture.
The move brings the Jets some valuable draft capital and creates cap flexibility but also creates a big void at the cornerback position. The Jets were considered to have one of the strongest cornerback groups in the league a few years ago but with D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II both also gone, New York will be looking for new solutions.
While there is little to play for from a team standpoint over the remainder of the season, it’s a good opportunity for rookie Azareye’h Thomas to prove he has what it takes to be a future starter. He made his first NFL start in place of Gardner in the Jets’ win over the Bengals and had an up-and-down game but with flashes of promise. If he stays healthy, he can get an extended look over the next few months and Aaron Glenn, himself a former All-Pro cornerback, will be keen to prove his staff can develop young talent.
The Jets also have Brandon Stephens under contract for two more years and, after a shaky start, he has settled down nicely. Pro Football Focus has Stephens ranked as the top cornerback in the league since Week 4, to highlight how much improvement he has shown. He will look to build on that in the second half to show he is part of the long-term solution at this position.
One cause for concern, though, is that Gardner was usually covering the opponent’s best receiving threat, so Stephens will face tougher assignments now that Gardner is gone. If he can hold his own, though, the Jets might be in better shape at the position than anyone realized.
Presumably, the Jets will be in the market for upgrades during the offseason though. The picks they acquired on Tuesday could prove useful in filling the void, but an underestimated aspect of the trades New York made is that it also saved them a ton of money, which could make them major players in the free agent market over the next year or two.
If the Jets are looking to find another No. 1 cornerback in the draft, they could be looking at players like LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Penn State’s A.J. Harris. Each is over 6 feet tall, which could help to replace Gardner’s length. Delane currently looks like being a potential top 10 pick, so if the Jets intend to use their top pick next year on a quarterback as many expect, then someone like Harris might be a better option that could be available later on.
As noted, the Jets have saved so much money that making a big splash in free agency also isn’t out of the question. If they intend to do that at the cornerback position, there perhaps aren’t many big names set to be available. Players like Jaylen Watson and Eric Stokes will probably be highly sought after if they hit the market.
Another interesting name is Riq Woolen, whose career got off to a terrific start but has stagnated over the past few years in Seattle, and he was even benched recently. The talented Woolen could benefit from a change of scenery without being too expensive.
Finally, a couple of other options worth watching at the cornerback position due to their connection to Glenn could be Amik Robertson and Marshon Lattimore.
Lattimore has one year left on the big-money extension he signed in 2021, but just suffered a torn ACL, so he could be a worthwhile gamble if the Commanders opt to release him or trade him for a low value. Glenn was the Saints’ defensive backs coach when they drafted Lattimore and during three of his four Pro Bowl seasons.
Robertson played over 600 snaps for Glenn in Detroit last season and can play both outside and in the slot so could be a good depth addition with scheme familiarity. He will be a free agent at the end of the season and shouldn’t be too expensive.