26 January 2024 , 00:00
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New York Jets star Sauce Gardner has sent a clear message to general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh, urging the team to make significant moves in the free agent market this offseason. He's particularly keen on the team signing wide receivers Tee Higgins and Calvin Ridley.
The 2023 Jets season started with high hopes but ended in massive disappointment, and Gardner is keen to move forward. The season-ending injury of Aaron Rodgers just four plays into his Jets career after a major trade from the Green Bay Packers was a key factor in their downfall.
However, Rodgers' absence wasn't the only reason for a 7-10 season, with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett facing criticism from fans for his tactics throughout the year. Despite the Jets' defence performing well, it was consistently let down by lacklustre play from the offence.
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A weak offensive line failed to provide effective protection for quarterbacks including Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian throughout the year, an issue that needs addressing in the offseason. And while Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are quality players, the Jets certainly need to bolster their squad over the coming months.
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Gardner, a second-year cornerback, has proven to be a star pick for the Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, he's fed up of seeing his excellent work wasted due to the Jets' missteps on offence and wants the team to start investing wisely.
With the offseason approaching, a host of top notch free-agent wide receivers could be looking for new clubs. Names like Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mike Evans and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown of the Arizona Cardinals are being talked about widely.
The Cincinnati Bengals could lose Tee Higgins this offseason - and Sauce Gardner identified him as a New York Jets target. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)Players including Michael Pittman Jr., Gabe Davis, Darnell Mooney, and Tyler Boyd are expected to be available when the new league year starts in March. But Gardner, a former No. 4 overall pick, is hinting that the Jets should have their eyes on two other players.
Replying to a post on social media from a fan account asking who the Jets should go for, Gardner wasn't shy to share his opinion. "Calvin Ridley and Tee (Higgins)," he replied, showing a clear preference.
Ridley had a successful season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023, after coming back from a one-year suspension for breaking the NFL's gambling rules while he was with the Atlanta Falcons. Ridley, who was picked first in 2018, scored 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jags.
On the other hand, Higgins has been playing second to No. 1 receiver Ja'Marr Chase during his time with the Bengals. Despite this, the 2020 second-round pick has still managed to achieve impressive numbers, with two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 before injuries limited him to 12 games and 656 yards this season. At six-foot-four, the 25 year old is a game changer all over the field, especially in the red zone where he could be the solution to many of the Jets problems.
The Jets have about £13million in cap space going into the 2024 campaign after Rodgers agreed to a pay cut last year. Their spending power will be boosted with some clever roster management. This puts them in a position to make a move at a big-time free-agent acquisition. And while the Jets might prefer to address it in the draft, upgrading at wide receiver must be a priority in the coming months.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]