Latest news with #SteveWilks
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Was Sauce Gardner's historic deal too 'spicy'?
Yahoo Sports fantasy analyst Matt Harmon and NFL writer Charles McDonald react to the Jets making Gardner the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history - and look ahead to how he could fit in with a new defense led by head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Hear the full conversation on 'Football 301' - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Advertisement Video Transcript Quarterback Sauce Gardner signed a 4-year, $120.4 million dollar deal. That's $30.1 million per year. He's the highest paid quarterback. In NFL history. I mean, I get how you end up there, but there's, there should be maybe a little bit concern, I guess, after how last year went for him. I mean, I, I still think he's, can still be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I mean, everything up to, everything before last season to Jesse, he is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I mean, he was basically dominant in the first, uh, couple of seasons in there before everything fell apart, uh, for the Jets last season. Advertisement Yeah, what do you think about the fit with Sauce? In this defense, it's it's a little hard to, I guess, pin down because Steve Wilkes is the defensive coordinator for Aaron Glenn, so, um, it's not just pure like let's copy paste what they did in Detroit, which was very man coverage heavy, but obviously coming off like a down season for him, what do we think about how he's going to be used in this defense specifically? I just have to assume that some of these guys are gonna get back into the working order and Sauce can be one of them. And basically what we saw from Aaron Glenn. Uh, in Detroit, I know the, the defense did not end well because they had a bunch of injuries and, uh, we saw how many points they were getting up by the end of the season, but we've seen like those DBs have good moments while he was in Detroit, and none of them were as talented as Sauce Carter, so hopefully this is a, a marriage that works for everybody. Advertisement I think this could be like the best season of his career because typically my view with these like players. That have down seasons, as long as you're not near the age cliff, which of course is not like an exact number, like typically the cheese isn't going bad there, like you can still get something good out of that player, so I think it's right to just reward these guys that were like good soldiers on really bad teams and hopefully they're gonna be part of the core of an era that turns it around here for the Jets.
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Sauce Gardner says new Jets coaches trying to get 'perfection' out of him is what he needs
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sauce Gardner is trying to cook up an even better version of himself this season for the New York Jets . And the star cornerback's new defensive coordinator is pushing him to get there. 'It's so many things that I feel like Sauce can do,' Steve Wilks said during the Jets' three-day minicamp this week. 'Again, the word 'consistent.' He's been a Pro Bowl player. How consistent can he be to take it to another level? And that's one of the things that I challenged him Day 1 when we had our conversation.'
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches
Jets' Sauce Gardner Gets Strong Praise From Veteran Coaches originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When he is at the top of his game, New York Jets All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner is the best in the league. Advertisement The former fourth overall pick was the first defensive back in NFL history to be named a first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons. After a strong start to his career, though, Gardner struggled last season. He was still a Pro Bowl player but was penalized more for his aggressive style and struggled to tackle throughout the 2024 campaign. Under a new coaching staff, Gardner's expectations are back to where they were after 2023. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks believes he can get the most out of their new star. "It's so many things that I feel like Sauce can do," Wilks said. "Again, the word consistent. He's been a Pro Bowl consistent can he be to take it to another level? Advertisement "And that's one of the things that I challenged him on day one when we had our conversation." It's important to remember that Gardner's worse season was still pretty damn good compared to other players in his position. If he can reduce the penalties and improve his tackling, Gardner should be expected to return to his All-Pro status. According to Wilks, that is precisely what the team expects out of him. And what Gardner expects out of himself. Few cornerbacks in the NFL have the kind of frame that Gardner is working with. Wilks commented about that on Wednesday as part of why consistency is such a focus for the All-Pro this year. Advertisement If Gardner can return to that status in 2023, the Jets' defense will continue to be one of the best in football. Related: Jets Emphasize Key Part of Mandatory Minicamp Related: Jets Continue To Be Pleased With First-Round Pick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Sauce Gardner present at Jets minicamp while waiting on new contract: Sources
Sauce Gardner is present at the start of the New York Jets' mandatory OTAs, according to league sources. While stars like T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh), Trey Hendrickson (Cincinnati) and Terry McLaurin (Washington) are expected to be absent for the start of minicamps, Gardner and Garrett Wilson, both still on their rookie contracts though now eligible for extensions, continue to show up as the Jets enjoy what has so far been a drama-free spring. Advertisement Both Gardner and Wilson have stated publicly that they want to be Jets 'for life' — while both are also seeking contracts that would make them among the highest-paid at their positions. As for Gardner, specifically: He wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, which would place him around $30 million per season. He certainly has a case to get it considering he was an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons. He was solid in 2024 too, even if it could be argued it was a down season by his standards. Gardner, who turns 25 in August, is a crucial piece of the Jets' new-look defense with head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, one that should deploy more man coverage than it did under Robert Saleh. It should also feature Gardner lining up across the other team's best wide receiver most of the time. As for Wilson: He's less likely to pursue a contract as the highest-paid receiver. That would reach Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson territory, and he's not quite in their class yet. However, he's produced at a remarkable level through three seasons despite turmoil at quarterback and offensive coordinator. Wilson, who turns 25 in July, recorded three straight 1,000-yard seasons and is in line to get the ball a lot in 2025 while playing his college quarterback (Justin Fields) and in an offense without a clearly defined second option in the passing game. Wilson's frustration was a topic of conversation as the Jets bumbled their way to a five-win season last year. If the franchise continued to struggle, he might have looked to move from the organization. But Wilson has been a fan of the Jets' offseason moves — both in terms of coaching and quarterback — and a couple weeks ago stated his desire to be here long-term. It hasn't hurt that he's shown up for every offseason workout and OTA practice. Gardner missed at least one voluntary practice but has mostly been present this offseason too. Advertisement 'I want to be a part of something special,' Wilson said a couple weeks ago during OTAs. 'I don't think that a whole bunch of individuals makes something special. As a group aspect, this is a group thing and I wanted to get in and know my teammates. I want to get in to know my coaches, even. This is a new staff. Learn the material that they're putting out and not be the guy that's behind when this thing is mandatory (in minicamp in June), right? There's a way you go about business when you love what you do.'
New York Post
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Steve Wilks and Aaron Glenn's styles make for unique Jets pairing after years of comparing notes
The last defensive play that Steve Wilks called ended in Mecole Hardman's Super Bowl-winning walk-off touchdown catch. It's been nearly 500 days since the Chiefs beat the 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl, and Wilks — who was fired days after that game — is back in the NFL as Jets defensive coordinator. Advertisement After spending last season as a college volunteer assistant coach at Charlotte, Wilks is calling plays under defensive-minded Aaron Glenn as part of Glenn's effort to become a CEO-style head coach. 'It's not really about our playbook,' Wilks said. 'It's about our play style.'
