Sauce Gardner working to be perfect corner for Jets

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jets rookie Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is already proving to be a shutdown corner.

He batted away a social media post that claimed he paid $250,000 to get the No. 1 jersey away from teammate D.J. Reed.

“It’s nowhere near that,” Gardner said.

Gardner was first given the No. 4, which is now Reed’s number thanks to a transaction that didn’t take long to negotiate. Gardner revealed that he gave Reed $50,000 for the number, which he wore in college and definitely has special meaning to him.

“It’s a big reason,” Gardner said after the first day of the Jets’ mandatory minicamp. “I always had 1. When I got the nickname, ‘Sauce,’ I had 1. It’s all the little things. I feel like it best fits me.”

The Jets think Gardner best fits them and what they’re trying to build on defense against some loaded passing offenses. They took Gardner with the fourth pick in the draft, believing he can eventually become a No. 1 corner. 

The 6-3, 200-pound Gardner is considered the best cornerback from this draft. He didn’t allow a touchdown in more than 1,000 coverage snaps in three years at the University of Cincinnati and he carries himself with the confidence of a No. 1 corner.

That number really seems to fit Gardner, who has quickly impressed his coaches. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said Gardner plays with “different urgency” and he is a quick study.

“He doesn’t repeat errors,” Ulbrich said. “He’s a guy that is so hungry to learn. If he gets beat, most of the time he just figures it out on his own because he has such a good football brain and a thirst for the game, a thirst to get better and learn and grow.”

Ulbrich said if Gardner doesn’t figure it out, he’ll almost immediately go to one of his coaches and ask what he did wrong or needs to do differently.

“It doesn’t show up again,” Ulbrich said. “He’s a guy who’s going to have his lumps and he’s going to have his rookie moments — which they all do. At the same time, there’s probably going to be less than most.”

The way Gardner views it, if you keep repeating mistakes, you’re making a decision to not correct yourself. That’s not in his makeup.

“I don’t want to do that,” he said. “I want to be perfect, even though there’s no such thing.”

Being perfect is important to Gardner. He said he’s always pushing himself to be great. Gardner’s been wearing red gloves during practices. He said the gloves, which he also wore in college, help keep him from grabbing receivers.

“Just practicing good habits,” Gardner said. “As a corner, nobody’s perfect. I still try to be perfect. Even though I can’t be perfect, I try to be consistent. I don’t want it to be one time where I’m being fundamentally sound, technically sound and then one rep where I grab.”

It’s too soon to know whether Gardner or Bryce Hall will be lining up opposite Reed. Training camp will determine that, but there is little doubt that Gardner will play a big role for the Jets this season.

He’s gaining valuable experience in OTAs and now this minicamp, which is a heavy dose of 7-on-7. It’s helping second-year quarterback Zach Wilson and the skill players work on their timing, but the defensive backs are preparing and improving because of it, too.

With Reed sitting out because of an injury, Gardner is getting first-team reps. He’s lined up against Corey Davis, Elijah Moore and fellow rookie Garrett Wilson and is making them work for everything.

“You got guys who are shorter and quicker,” Gardner said. “You got guys that are tall and quick also. Just receivers with a different play-styles. The difference between the league and college, all these guys I’m going against are good. I feel like they’re making me a lot better and I’m doing the same for them.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.