Sauce Gardner shares initial impressions of Aaron Rodgers in New York

From the moment four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets, All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner has made himself available to his new quarterback. Among other things, the two have gone to playoff games at Madison Square Garden and already created their own handshake.

Gardner discussed their burgeoning relationship on The Pivot podcast with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor.

“A-Rod ain’t what y’all think he is,” Gardner said. “And that’s not a bad thing. That’s actually a great thing. He got some energy, feel me? He came with some sausage. He got to New York, he feelin’ a little younger. I see a little pep in his step…I’ll be having to feel him out a little bit. We were just talking at the facility like somebody asked like is you and Sauce officially best friends? And he’s like, yea, this is my best friend. We just be joking, man. He’s a cool guy for me to be around. Happy to have him on the team.”

Expectations were high for Gardner heading into his rookie season after being drafted with the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati. But the Detroit native was even better than expected, earning a spot on the All-Pro first team at cornerback and winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He led the league with 20 passes defended and also added two picks and 75 tackles.

Gardner’s season not just put himself in the category of great players but in some rare around with all-time performers. The last Jets cornerback to make the All-Pro first team was Darrelle Revis while the last rookie cornerback to make the All-Pro first team was Ronnie Lott back in 1981.

Revis and Lott are considered two of the best defensive backs of all-time.

Gardner wasn’t the only rookie to pop off in his first year in the NFL last year. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with 83 catches for 1,103 receiving yards.

The two of them could make up one of the best cornerstones in the NFL for years to come.

Rodgers said Gardner and Wilson have the potential to be the best players at each of their positions.

“We’ve got, at some point possibly, the best corner and the best receiver in the NFL,” Rodgers said, via the New York Post in June. “It’s a legit possibility for those two guys.