Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report

NFL Prospect Profile: Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, CB, Univ. of Cincinnati

Name: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner

School: University of Cincinnati

Year: Jr

Position: Cornerback

Measurables: 6’3”, 190 lbs.

 

Stats: 

 

General Info:

Ahmad Gardner was born and raised in the Detroit area. Gardner was given the nickname “Sauce” at age 6 by his football coach because of his affinity for dipping sauce and has since embraced the name as his alter ego. Sauce attended Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, leading his team to a state championship and earning first-team All-State honors. A three-star recruit out of high school, he chose to attend University of Cincinnati after not receiving scholarship offers from some bigger schools. At University of Cincinnati, Gardner played all three years at Cincinnati, starting as a true freshman. Sauce has ample confidence on and off the field, almost a requirement for NFL cornerbacks today. He is projected to be an early first-round selection in the 2022 draft.

 

Positional Skills:

Strengths

Sauce Gardner’s length is ideal for a boundary corner, measuring 6 feet, 3 inches tall with 33.5-inch arms. He has good technique and awareness to go along with his physical gifts as well, often using the sideline to his advantage and making plays at the point of the catch. While he still managed to haul in three interceptions in each season he played, Gardner is most known for the lack of targets attempted against him. Targeted only 37 times in his final season, he allowed a mere 18 catches amounting to 122 yards and 0 TDs. Sauce’s incredible statistics were not limited to his final season. Throughout his career, he allowed 0 touchdowns and his career passer rating allowed was 31.2. For reference, the passer rating on a spiked ball is 39.6.

Weaknesses

Sauce Gardner dominated in the role he was given in college, but there is question as to its translation to NFL football. He played in the AAC (American Athletic Conference), so some may be concerned with his level of competition. He mostly played press coverage while at Cincinnati and struggled a bit when playing off-ball coverage. Sauce improved as a tackler throughout his college career, but tackling remains a concern. While he was only flagged twice in his final season, Gardner struggled with penalties early in his career, totaling 12 infractions in his first two seasons. Some may also be concerned with Sauce Gardner’s weight relative to his height.

Fit with the Packers:

Cornerback may become a position of need for the Packers, depending on the prospective return of cornerback Rasul Douglas. Regardless, Sauce Gardner is the high-caliber player that must be taken if he falls into your lap. Barring a slip in the draft, Gardner will not be available when Green Bay selects with the 28th overall pick. The Packers, however, have shown a willingness to trade up for players they deem worthy under General Manager Brian Gutekunst. The Packers’ front office places heavy importance on the physical tools a player has; Gardner fits the bill in that regard. Sauce played some slot corner in college but mostly lined up on the outside. If he is drafted by the Packers, he could be a boundary corner opposite Eric Stokes, allowing Jaire Alexander to play in the slot. Paired with the safety duo of Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage, their secondary could be a feared unit in the NFL.

 

__________________________

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.

__________________________

NFL Categories: 
1 points
 

Comments (16)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
BirdDogUni's picture

March 17, 2022 at 06:47 pm

Did DA get traded?

1 points
1
0
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

March 17, 2022 at 08:04 pm

Yup!

1 points
1
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 17, 2022 at 11:03 pm

Bring on the Mock Drafts - : )

22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 EDGE Boye Mafe - Minnesota
53: R2 P21 LB Christian Harris - Alabama
59: R2 P27 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota State
92: R3 P28 WR Khalil Shakir - Boise State
132: R4 P27 WR Velus Jones - Tennessee
140: R4 P35 OT Braxton Jones - Southern Utah
171: R5 P28 TE Jake Ferguson - Wisconsin
228: R7 P7 RB Hassan Haskins - Michigan
249: R7 P28 OT Obinna Eze - TCU
258: R7 P37 TE Austin Allen - Nebraska

3 points
3
0
stockholder's picture

March 18, 2022 at 07:24 am

Mafe is falling. I still think Gutey will take Green and a WR.

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 17, 2022 at 11:17 pm

Different Rankings... Had to take Watson and Pierce earlier... Lol

22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 WR Christian Watson - NDSU
53: R2 P21 WR Alec Pierce - Cincinnati
59: R2 P27 EDGE Boye Mafe - Minnesota
92: R3 P28 LB Darrian Beavers - Cincinnati
132: R4 P27 TE Daniel Bellinger - San Diego State
140: R4 P35 TE Jelani Woods - Virginia
171: R5 P28 WR Tyquan Thornton - Baylor
228: R7 P7 OT Dare Rosenthal - Kentucky
249: R7 P28 OT Vederian Lowe - Illinois
258: R7 P37 LB Jeremiah Moon - Florida

2 points
2
0
stockholder's picture

March 18, 2022 at 11:05 am

Davis is a four man front. The 3-4-4 is here to stay with Campbell. I believe he could target T. walker. instead of Mafe. I never liked going up for Savage. Hope he stays put.

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 17, 2022 at 11:40 pm

22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 WR Jameson Williams - Alabama
53: R2 P21 EDGE Boye Mafe - Minnesota
59: R2 P27 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota State
92: R3 P28 LB Troy Andersen - Montana State
132: R4 P27 WR Tyquan Thornton - Baylor
140: R4 P35 OT Obinna Eze - TCU
171: R5 P28 S J.T. Woods - Baylor
228: R7 P7 WR Bo Melton - Rutgers
249: R7 P28 OT Tyler Vrabel - Boston College
258: R7 P37 TE Daniel Bellinger - San Diego State

1 points
1
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 18, 2022 at 12:27 pm

Think we have WR covered... Lol

22: R1 P22 WR Treylon Burks - Arkansas
28: R1 P28 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
53: R2 P21 TE Trey McBride - Colorado State
59: R2 P27 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota State
92: R3 P28 WR Alec Pierce - Cincinnati
132: R4 P27 EDGE Amare Barno - Virginia Tech
140: R4 P35 WR Velus Jones - Tennessee
171: R5 P28 OT Vederian Lowe - Illinois
228: R7 P7 C Alec Lindstrom - Boston College
249: R7 P28 OT Myron Cunningham - Arkansas
258: R7 P37 LB Jeremiah Moon - Florida

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 18, 2022 at 12:35 pm

Used a different Big Board and went with a different strategy, but still got 3 decent WR prospects and our running game and run defense should be wicked good. ; )

22: R1 P22 DL Jordan Davis - Georgia
28: R1 P28 DL Devonte Wyatt - Georgia
53: R2 P21 RB Breece Hall - Iowa State
59: R2 P27 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota State
92: R3 P28 WR John Metchie III - Alabama
132: R4 P27 LB Troy Andersen - Montana State
140: R4 P35 WR Khalil Shakir - Boise State
171: R5 P28 S JT Woods - Baylor
228: R7 P7 S Nick Cross - Maryland
249: R7 P28 OT Luke Tenuta - Virginia Tech
258: R7 P37 TE Daniel Bellinger - San Diego State

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 18, 2022 at 12:46 pm

22. Chris Olave WR Ohio State

28. Treylon Burks WR Arkansas

53. Alec Pierce WR Cincinnati

59. Bernhard Raimann OT Central Michigan

92. Isaiah Thomas EDGE Oklahoma

132. Nick Cross S Maryland

140. Trae Barry TE Boston College

171. Grant Calcaterra TE SMU

228. Thomas Booker DT Stanford

249. Zachary Thomas OT San Diego State

258. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa EDGE Notre Dame

0 points
0
0
stockholder's picture

March 18, 2022 at 12:58 pm

#22. Treylon Burks WR Arkansas. Runs better at pro Day
#28. Travis Jones. DL Cinn
#53. DeMarvin Leal DL Texas A& M
#59. Jalen Tolbert WR S.Albama
#92. Nick Cross S Maryland
132. Velus Jones WR /ST Tenn
140. Tom Zack OL Wake Forrest
171. Javion Heiligh WR/ST Coastal Carolina
228. Chigoziem Okonkwo Te. Maryland
249. Lucas Krull Te. Pitt
258. Tyler Goodson RB Iowa

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 18, 2022 at 01:00 pm

22: R1 P22 WR Garrett Wilson - Ohio State
28: R1 P28 EDGE Travon Walker - Georgia
53: R2 P21 WR John Metchie III - Alabama
59: R2 P27 WR Christian Watson - North Dakota St
92: R3 P28 DL Zi'Yon Hill - Louisiana
132: R4 P27 S Nick Cross - Maryland
140: R4 P35 G Marquis Hayes - Oklahoma
171: R5 P28 TE Jelani Woods - Virginia
228: R7 P7 OT Dare Rosenthal - Kentucky
249: R7 P28 OT Matt Waletzko - North Dakota
258: R7 P37 DL Miles Fox - Wake Forest

0 points
0
0
BirdDogUni's picture

March 18, 2022 at 01:09 pm

It really sucks EDGE David Ojabo Michigan went down with an injury today at his pro day. Hope it isn't too bad. Maybe he'll fall to #22 now though.

1 points
1
0
stockholder's picture

March 18, 2022 at 01:58 pm

He was going down anyway. And how can you put Travon Walker so low. I see him as a Top 10-15 pick now.

1 points
1
0
MooPack's picture

March 18, 2022 at 02:20 pm

That is too bad. Not only for him, but for Packers ability to get a better edge rusher. The 1st round Edge rusher class looks like this:

Hutchinson and Thibodeaux are a consensus 1 and 2 in position rankings. Not going to get them.
Jermaine Johnson, Travon Walker, David Ojabo, and George Karlaftis have been going up and down the board leap frogging each other. All were most likely out of range for the Packers, but Karlaftis may have been. Probably not now. Jermaine Johnson is the one I wish they had a shot at, but not likely. That leaves Boye Mafe as the last one with a possible 1st round grade and he may have just been pushed up by Ojabo's injury. The rest are going to be mid 2nd round or later. Could get an outstanding rusher 2nd or later, but I'm just considering what may happen in the 1st for this news release.

1 points
1
0
MooPack's picture

March 19, 2022 at 03:20 pm

Rasul Douglas back in the fold.

0 points
0
0