New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ex-Jets star: CB Sauce Gardner is 'next island of New York'

By Nathaniel Griffee | Last updated 11/9/22

Welcome to "Sauce Island."

Former Jets star Darrelle Revis praised Jets rookie corner Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, calling him the "next island of New York."

Revis was known during his playing days as "Revis Island" for his ability to smother the receivers he covered. The future Hall of Famer seems happy to pass the torch, adding that the "future of erasing the #1 receiver" is in "good hands."

future of erasing the #1 receiver are in good hands.

a great article about the next island of new york! https://t.co/rIi2HVvQ1H
— Darrelle Revis (@Revis24) November 9, 2022

In his nine-game NFL career, Sauce has already shown he has the ability to take up Revis' "island" legacy of elite corner play. The rookie leads the league in pass breakups with 13.

Many of those PBUs have come in high-pressure situations. His latest, against what could have been a backbreaking TD bomb to Buffalo's Gabe Davis, put the Super Bowl favorite Bills to bed.

They tried @iamSauceGardner.

Game over.#BUFvsNYJ on CBS. pic.twitter.com/93vkhZHils
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 6, 2022

Against top competition, the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year has been elite in man coverage.

Receivers covered by Sauce this year:

Amari Cooper
Ja'Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Diontae Johnson
George Pickens
Tyreek Hill
Jaylen Waddle
Courtland Sutton
Jerry Jeudy
Stefon Diggs
Gabe Davis

Total catches vs man coverage - four, for 28 yds.

Incredible resumé for a rookie corner.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) November 8, 2022

In a piece comparing Revis and Sauce, ESPN's Rich Cimini quoted current Jet Vinny Curry: "[Gardner] is like Revis, except in [Antonio] Cromartie's body."

If that's the case, "Sauce Island" could become a place no receiver wants to go for years.

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