Jets’ Rookie Sauce Gardner Paid $50K for No. 1 Jersey

Ahmad Gardner at 2022 NFL Draft
Ahmad Gardner at 2022 NFL Draft. Photo by James Atoa/UPI/Shutterstock (12916089j)

The New York Jets’ rookie corner Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner had to pay a steep price to kick off his NFL career with a preferred number on the back of his jersey. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Gardner revealed that he had to pay $50,000 to veteran teammate D.J. Reed to get the No. 1 jersey.

Reed probably didn’t mind handing over the number for that price, considering he only took it a few months ago when he joined the Jets as a free agent. The 25-year-old wore No. 2 last season while with the Seattle Seahawks.

Gardner didn’t waste time getting his new jersey on and was seen wearing it during Tuesday’s practice.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner played college football with Cincinnati and wore No. 12 in his first two years. He switched to No. 1 as a junior, and this coincided with his best year as a member of the Bearcats. The Detroit native finished the 2021 season with 40 tackles, three interceptions, and four pass deflections while emerging as a lockdown corner. As a result, he was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year and received Consensus All-American honors.

Gardner was considered the best corner in the 2022 class but wasn’t the first CB off the board. That honor belongs to Derek Stingley Jr., who was taken third overall by the Houston Texans. Gardner was taken immediately after by the Jets with the No. 4 selection.

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