The New York Jets’ new leadership team is placing early pressure on cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner to reclaim the form that made him a two-time All-Pro before a disappointing 2024 campaign. Head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks have challenged the 24-year-old to deliver “week-to-week dominance” and assume a larger locker-room leadership role as the club rebuilds from last season’s 5-12 finish. Gardner burst onto the scene after being drafted fourth overall in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two years. But he slipped to 47th out of 52 qualified cornerbacks in Expected Points Added per target last season, according to Next Gen Stats, and drew nine accepted penalties—two more than in his first two seasons combined. Wilks, a former NFL defensive back, told Gardner to ‘compete against yourself,’ while Glenn has emphasized leading by influence rather than rhetoric. Performance this year could have financial consequences. Gardner is due a $5.2 million base salary in 2025 under his rookie contract, and the Jets and his representatives have opened talks on an extension that could make him the league’s highest-paid player at the position if he rebounds. Off the field, TMZ reported that Gardner purchased a semi-automatic rifle, a handgun and a shotgun for as much as $7,500 over the weekend. The team has not commented on the report.