Sauce Gardner

Coming off his first season as the Jets' nickel back, 28-year-old Oliver had a largely solid 2024. With D.J. Reed lost to the Lions in free agency, the Jets would not have wanted to also lose their No. 3, even if Sauce Gardner's presence makes the entire secondary better. Oliver hasn't kicked outside much since 2019-20, so he should mostly remain in the middle in 2025.

Sauce Gardner thinks his former QB should sign with this NFC team

Stephens was thought of as someone teams could buy low on heading into free agency -- he allowed 926 yards in coverage and had a 49.4 PFF coverage rating in 2024. Instead, the Jets have paid him premium starter money. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the deal contains $23 million in guarantees. Stephens will replace D.J. Reed outside next to Sauce Gardner for the Jets.

The Lions found their replacement for Carlton Davis less than an hour after his signing with the Patriots was reported. Per FOX NFL's Jordan Schultz, Reed's contract includes $32 million guaranteed. With the Jets looking to get younger and fellow cornerback Sauce Gardner needing an extension, they chose not to re-sign Reed, allowing him to hit the open market. Reed broke up 11 passes and notched two TFLs plus a sack last year despite missing three games. He averaged 11 pass breakups during this three-year stint in New York.

The first round of the 2022 draft yielded a trio of impact players for the Jets. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and receiver Garrett Wilson have enjoyed strong starts to their careers, and extensions with one or both could be worked out as early as this offseason. Regardless of when a long-term pact is signed on each of those fronts, New […]