Sauce Gardner could get the last laugh on Darren Mougey and the Jets

Hearing about a surging offense, as the New York Jets have had throughout training camp, makes it incredibly easy to forget about the other side of the coin.

The Jets knew going into the year that the secondary would likely struggle to maintain consistency, especially considering this is their first full year without All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. But there’s a significant difference between working through growing pains and allowing Geno Smith and rookie Cade Klubnik to complete long touchdowns.

Those at Jets camp, including SNY’s Connor Hughes, have repeatedly suggested that the defense could be a major problem. Hughes called it a “concern” following Saturday’s scrimmage.

“I have legitimate concerns about the Jets defense, especially the secondary.” Hughes wrote on X/Twitter.

Addressing the truth about Sauce Gardner and the New York Jets’ defense

Gardner should be ecstatic about the Jets’ struggles, if only because of two strange narratives that arose this offseason. For whatever reason, the national media began implying that Gardner’s best days were behind him and that the Jets were right to give up on the 2022 first-round pick.

Whether or not Gardner has such a mindset is unclear, as he’s yet to publicly share his feelings on either take. Either way, there is no reason to believe that Gardner won’t remain an upper-echelon cornerback and a borderline top-five player at his position.

But the idea that the Jets “gave up” on Gardner isn’t necessarily accurate. In other words, it’s likely not true. 

Mougey saw a Jets team in transition and realized that he should maximize trade value where appropriate. Hence, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams found themselves headed to aspiring contenders that both missed the playoffs. At least Gardner and the Colts could cite Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard’s respective season-ending injuries.

As for Williams and the Cowboys, they rolled over and let their fans down as they usually do. Just remember that the Jets have reached a conference championship game more recently than the Cowboys have. 

Regardless, it’s slightly early to completely panic about the Jets’ defense. The key will be seeing how the starters respond to potentially allowing longer drives and big plays during the three-game preseason slate. There’s been positive buzz brewing about safety Dane Belton, an offseason signee who started 22 games in four seasons for the Giants, as well as cornerback Brandon Stephens.

The Jets are still without highly touted rookie cornerback D’Angelo Ponds, who has missed most of training camp with a calf injury. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Nahshon Wright both arrive with high expectations, though Fitzpatrick turns 30 in November.

Gardner and the Colts have their own issues, with injuries decimating their receiving corps. Josh Downs and Alec Pierce are both out, and they lack young receivers with even a semi-proven track record.

If only the Colts still had Adonai Mitchell. Oops.

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