Sauce Gardner has curious reaction to latest NY Jets free agency signing

The NY Jets added a new piece to their secondary on Monday, reportedly agreeing to terms on a three-year, $36 million deal with former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens.

Stephens is expected to serve as D.J. Reed's replacement and complete the Jets' starting cornerback trio alongside Sauce Gardner and Michael Carter II. Not everyone is thrilled with the move, however.

The Stephens signing has received quite a bit of criticism from Jets fans, who aren't thrilled with the addition of a player who graded out as one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Jets fans weren’t the only ones with thoughts on the signing. Sauce Gardner took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts, but his choice of words raised some eyebrows. Now, fans are still trying to decipher exactly what he meant.

"Every CB across from me gon' ball regardless. Proven fact since college, so yes, it's a good move. We gon' make each other better!"

Sauce Gardner

Sauce Gardner and NY Jets fans react to the Brandon Stephens signing

Gardner expressed optimism, stating that he believed the signing was a "good move," but it was the context around that comment that caught the attention of Jets fans.

By emphasizing that any cornerback playing opposite him is bound to thrive, Gardner unintentionally made it sound like it doesn’t really matter how good the new addition is because he’ll elevate them regardless. Combine that with the criticism the move has received, and it's easy to see why some fans would interpret his post negatively.

Of course, Gardner likely didn’t mean any harm by his comment. The two-time All-Pro was probably just expressing excitement about his new position-mate. However, looking back, he might wish he had worded the post a little differently.

A third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2021 NFL Draft, Stephens has experience playing both safety and cornerback but is coming off a lackluster 2024 season. The former SMU standout finished this past year with an abysmal PFF coverage grade of 49.4.

Stephens was one of the weakest links in Baltimore’s talented defense, and it’s safe to say that Ravens fans aren’t losing sleep over his departure. However, the Jets believe Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks’ defensive scheme can help unlock his potential and maximize his raw athleticism.

Only time will tell if they're correct in their wager. For now, Gardner and the Jets are excited Stephens is in the building, even if the former's initial response sparked a little controversy.

More NY Jets news and analysis: