Robert Saleh wants to see Sauce Gardner take the next step in one key area

Sauce Gardner is as good as they get among NFL quarterbacks, but that doesn’t mean that head coach Robert Saleh doesn’t want to see the New York Jets defensive back improve in a specific area.

Gardner, a first-round pick of the Jets in the 2022 NFL draft (one of three Jets picks taken in the first round that year), has been an All-Pro in each of his first two seasons in the league.

He has 32 passes defended but just two interceptions during his first two seasons, a surprisingly low number for such a highly-regarded defensive back. Both of those interceptions came his rookie season.

So for Saleh, Gardner needs to take another step this offseason and progress in being able to turn some of those batted passes into turnovers.

“The challenge: Catch the ball. He had a lot of opportunities last year and I think he’s up for that challenge,” Saleh told reporters on Sunday.

Gardner was taken fourth overall in the 2022 draft. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year following a first season where he had 75 total tackles and 20 passes defended.