Sauce Gardner believes Zach Wilson has the tools to be a top-tier starter in the NFL.
Zach Wilson’s tenure with the New York Jets left a lot to be desired. The second overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft came in with high expectations, only to completely falter when given the opportunity as a starter.
While the Jets cut bait and traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos, one New York star still believes in the former Jets quarterback. On the Green Light Podcast with Chris Long, Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner discussed his NFL idol, his disdain for the old Jets’ uniforms, and his thoughts on his former quarterback.
“When it comes to talent, as players and coaches,” Gardner began, “Let me just speak for me. If I see somebody do something one time then I know it’s in them, I know they can do it.”
When asked to divulge further, Gardner couldn’t pinpoint anything specific. However, he did mention how the former Jets quarterback could do special things both in practice and in-game – despite the lowlights that came with it.
“So I did practice against him for two-straight years,” said the two-time first-team All-Pro. “I’ve seen him do like some special things in games, so it’s like I know he can do it. So it’s just going to take something to get it out of him so this way this can become who he is, like, game in, game out, every day at practice, you know what I’m saying.”
Unfortunately for Wilson (and Jets fans), that didn’t happen during his time in New York. Instead, Wilson would post league-low statistics in nearly every category and a 12-21 record as a starter. That led to the Jets trading Wilson to the Broncos for a mere day-three pick swap in the 2024 NFL draft.
Now in Denver, there’s a chance that Wilson could reignite the flame that made him a second overall pick. And while Gardner doesn’t suggest any guarantees about his former quarterback’s future, he concedes that it could be the best thing to happen for him.
“So I feel like a new chapter, like obviously I’m not familiar with Denver and how they run things, and who their coaches [are], but a new chapter I feel like was good for him. I feel like he has all the tools that it takes to be a top-tier NFL quarterback.”
The sentiment feels nice, but the BYU product will have his work cut out for him in Denver. Despite head coach Sean Payton expressing that he likes Wilson’s traits, the former Jets quarterback is likely to start the season backing up first-round pick Bo Nix.
According to Payton, Nix is “farther along than most would be.” Considering the Broncos selected Nix with the 12th overall pick, Wilson is a longshot from being named the starting quarterback to enter the season. Either way, it’ll be an interesting battle to watch, as the Broncos will visit MetLife Stadium to take on the Jets in Week 4.
