Sauce Gardner’s time spent with Davante Adams doesn’t match the eight seasons the receiver performed with Aaron Rodgers in Inexperienced Bay.
However the two-time All-Professional Jets cornerback remembers forging a “fairly cool” bond two years in the past on the Professional Bowl with Adams, who has listed the Jets amongst his main locations after requesting a commerce from the Raiders earlier this week.
Gardner didn’t wish to tackle these commerce rumors apart from to say, “I do know the coaches and the entrance workplace are going to do no matter they really feel is finest for the staff.”
Nonetheless, he gushed concerning the 31-year-old Adams, who is anticipated to overlook his second straight sport this week for Las Vegas resulting from a hamstring harm.
“I do know Aaron and Davante have an excellent relationship. And me and Davante received a fairly cool relationship, too,” Gardner informed The Submit earlier than follow Thursday in Florham Park. “We spent a variety of time collectively on the Professional Bowl speaking with one another. I bear in mind my rookie 12 months [in 2022], we have been speaking loads.
“After which I used to be actually attempting to go up towards him in follow as a lot as I might after we have been doing simply walk-throughs within the purple zone. I actually tried to look at how he ran his routes, as a result of I knew I needed to play him final 12 months. He’s an unimaginable participant and a very good particular person, and no matter occurs with [the trade request] occurs.”
Within the meantime, Gardner and the Jets will face one other higher echelon receiver Sunday in London in Justin Jefferson, who has posted 358 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in the course of the Vikings’ 4-0 begin.
As a rookie, Gardner helped restrict Jefferson to 45 receiving yards in a loss in Minnesota in December 2022.
“Man, he can do all the things. Elite route runner, he’s received elite fingers. He’s a competitor. He’s received confidence. He’s all the things that you simply search for in a receiver,” Gardner mentioned. “Clearly I haven’t performed him in a few years, however I nonetheless bear in mind the way it was like going towards him.
“We have been actually on the market competing. Me, him, D.J. [Reed, Jets cornerback], and now they received a man like [Jordan] Addison on the opposite aspect, who can complement him effectively, and form of even appears like him on the market a little bit bit when it comes to how they run their routes.”
As Gardner put it, each week is “a brand new problem,” with “nearly each staff” having a real No. 1 receiver.
He additionally famous that prime receivers typically are paid greater than elite cornerbacks within the NFL.
Jefferson earns $35 million this 12 months and is one in all six receivers making $30 million or extra. Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Surtain II are making round $24 million apiece to steer all corners.
That’s, a minimum of till Gardner, who continues to be on his rookie contract making $8.36 million this 12 months, cashes in with a large extension when he’s eligible within the offseason.
“Man, I really like challenges. Not simply me. D.J., as effectively, we love going towards the perfect, and [Jefferson] is certainly among the best,” Gardner mentioned. “For those who have a look at how corners and receivers are paid, it’s so completely different, and I don’t suppose it must be a lot of a distinction.
“Nook, I really feel like, is the toughest place to play. I don’t suppose receiver is the toughest place to play, however they [are] getting paid some huge cash. It’s a type of issues, man, so I like to compete towards all these guys.”
Gardner and the protection additionally shall be going up towards former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold. The 2018 No. 3-overall choose was traded in 2021, a 12 months earlier than Gardner was chosen No. 4 total.
The 27-year-old Darnold has been reborn with the Vikings after subsequent stints with the Panthers and the 49ers.
He has thrown for 932 yards and a league-high 11 touchdowns getting into Sunday’s sport.
“He appears assured to me, that’s the very first thing I see. He appears actual assured,” Gardner mentioned. “Clearly, he’s received some fairly elite guys round him. However I used to be watching his movie from when he was right here, and it don’t look the identical to the way it appears now.
“Them guys round him undoubtedly have helped his identification come to life. That undoubtedly wasn’t the identical when he was right here. And that’s nice for him. We gotta do our greatest to cease them this week.”
