Two of the NFL’s top shutdown cornerbacks will be on opposite sidelines Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium, and Sauce Gardner says he has followed all aspects of Patrick Surtain II’s career with the Broncos.
Gardner, a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons with the Jets, knows his time for a massive payday will come, as it did earlier this year for Surtain, who joined the league one year sooner.
“I’m always watching, and watching film, in general. He always shows up on there. He’s a dog,” Gardner said of Surtain before practice Thursday in Florham Park. “He’s been doing this for a little minute. Every week, it’s the highlight, even when the ball’s not getting thrown his way. He’s a lockdown cornerback, for sure.
“And he just got paid, well-deserving. He deserved that for sure.”
Surtain, a two-time Pro Bowler in his first three seasons in Denver, inked a four-year extension worth $96 million with $77.5 million guaranteed in early September — making him the highest-paid defensive back in the game.
Gardner is signed through 2025 plus a club option for a fifth year on his original four-year, $33.45 million rookie contract after he was taken with the third-overall pick out of Cincinnati in 2022.
He is not eligible for an extension until after this season, as are his two fellow Jets ’22 first-rounders: wide receiver Garrett Wilson and injured defensive end Jermaine Johnson.
“Nah, I don’t even [think about it],” Gardner said when asked about his contract situation. “I’ve been trying not to think about that stuff. As much as I am thinking sometimes, I’m like, ‘Let me stop thinking about that, all that stuff.’
“At the end of the day, we got something special here, and I can’t always preach about taking everything day-by-day and week-by-week if I’m thinking about some individual stuff for myself. We got a pretty good group of guys, coaches, trainers, everybody here, and I just can’t take none of that for granted.”
Asked how special he believes the Jets (2-1) can be this season, with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers back at quarterback, the 24-year-old Gardner replied that he occasionally has to force himself to remain in the moment.
“Sometimes I do [think about it], but then I’m always getting back to where my feet are,” Gardner said. “It’s only Week 4. … I’ve been doing it every week, talking to myself, little things, just to make sure I’m staying focused.
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“The moment I start thinking too far ahead, I get to thinking, like, what can I be doing right now to help my team? Whether it’s extra film study or helping myself prepare even more when it comes to the game.”
Gardner actually hasn’t intercepted a pass since Nov. 6, 2022, as a rookie against the Bills, a stretch of 26 games, but that largely is a testament to his coverage skills.
Gardner is the only corner since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, joining Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons as the only defensive players to accomplish that feat.
Surtain similarly only has one pick in his last two seasons, including none in the Broncos’ 1-2 start.
“They’re both elite competitors, strong at the line of scrimmage, elite football IQ in terms of understanding stems and route running ability and all that stuff,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday. “Both of them, if they get their paws on you, you’re pretty much dead in the route, but two elite players, two guys that are fun to watch.
“And really, in my opinion, they’re luxuries to have when you can put those guys basically in zero coverage and let the rest of the team go play football doing something else, it’s a luxury.”
Asked about facing Surtain this weekend, Rodgers called him “one of the best players in the league at any position.”
Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was Denver’s head coach in 2022.
“First, with Pat, he’s such a great person. Just how he handles himself, he’s a true pro,” Hackett said. “Even when I was with him, and he was younger — I guess not that much younger — but gosh, he was like a 10-year vet. And then you take his size, his speed, his strength. And he doesn’t panic. He’s so confident in what he does. He’s just a great all-around football player.”
