Sauce Gardner just gave a crosstown rival the ultimate compliment

Since entering the NFL in 2022, New York Jets cornerbacl Sauce Gardner has amassed 181 tackles, 40 passes defensed, and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two NFL seasons.

His coverage numbers took a minor nosedive in 2024, but that was in large part due to the mid-season firing of Robert Saleh. Yet that didn't deter the Jets from rightfully making him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

He got that payday because the former Cincinnati star cemented himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars immediately upon being drafted No. 4 overall in 2022. But he’s also credited other players who have followed a similar trajectory to him, including New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers.

"He does a lot of things well— he’s got great hands, he’s got elite route running,” the 24-year-old told reporters on Thursday. “He kind of reminds me of myself. He came into the league and immediately established himself as one of the top guys. That's my guy, we're cool outside of football and things like that as well."

Sauce Gardner hypes up Malik Nabers in near unprecedented move

It’s not every day that one of the Jets’ biggest stars gives a Giants player that kind of praise. Gardner isn’t in the business of giving out compliments — especially to players who wear blue — so his words hold weight. And it’s clear Nabers’ dominant rookie campaign made a mark in league circles.

Last season, the former LSU standout torched secondaries all season long, catching over 100 passes and racking up over 1,200 receiving yards, all while putting the rest of the league on notice on Sundays. 

And the craziest part? The 22-year-old did all of this while playing with one of the league’s weakest quarterback rooms. So he earned the compliments from Gardner — after all, he looks poised to be one of the league’s most dynamic, young pass-catchers.

In 2025, the young Pro Bowler will be catching passes from Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart, a notable upgrade from the trio of Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito in 2024. And he's even reportedly growing as a leader in the Giants' locker room.

Gardner knows what it’s like to walk into the league and immediately demand respect. He did it in 2022, won Defensive Rookie of the Year, and was considered one of the league’s best defensive backs by the conclusion of his inaugural NFL season.

And he saw that same instant-impact ability in his cross-town rival, just on the other side of the football. The two won’t square off in a regular-season game until 2027, but when they do, it’ll be must-watch football.

After all, the NFL is an iron sharpens iron league, and the Big Apple has two stars at the top of their game.

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