The New York Jets have put together the NFL's most formidable triad of cornerbacks over the past two seasons. There's no convincing defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich otherwise.
"We have, in my opinion, the best trio of corners with Michael Carter and DJ Reed and Sauce, obviously. Those three, I'll put against anybody in this league," said Ulbrich on last week's edition of the Official Jets Podcast.
Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is the headliner. The tall, physically-gifted Gardner has two All-Pro First Team selections to show for his first two professional seasons.
"He has some very unique qualities. His transitions, his foot quickness, his speed is just so unique for a guy so high cut and long legged. It doesn't make physical sense to me most of the time," said Ulbrich.
During the same offseason when they drafted Gardner, the Jets signed free agent DJ Reed to start as the boundary cornerback on the opposite side. Over 32 starts for what has been a Top 4 overall defense, he has totaled 21 passes defensed, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
Then, there's Carter, a 2021 fifth-round selection that has emerged as one of the league's top-performing slot cornerbacks. According to Pro Football Focus, Carter "allowed just one touchdown and eight first downs in 2023, giving up just 0.62 yards per coverage snap."
PFF, which issues analytics-based position rankings, placed all three Jets' starters amongst the NFL's Top 15 cornerbacks heading into 2024. As a unit, New York finished second overall in pass defense (168.3) last year while limiting opposing passers to a collective 76.0 QB rating.
"Our ability to play man in those windows has definitely gone up because of the human beings that we have," said Ulbrich.
Gardner, Reed and Carter are scheduled to report to training camp on July 23 in Florham Park.
