The Cincinnati Bearcats boast a cavalcade of prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, and cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner should be the first UC player off the board. NFL Draft projections peg Gardner as a top-10 pick, and it will be a surprise if he falls outside that range in Round 1. So where are Gardner’s best landing spots in the NFL?
NFL Draft Projections: Ahmad Gardner’s potential landing spots
Given that cornerback is considered one of the premium positions in the NFL, teams have shown no qualms about drafting them early in the first round. In recent years, CBs like Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns), Jeff Okudah (Detroit Lions), Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers), and Patrick Surtain Jr. (Denver Broncos) have all come off the board within the top 10. After a stellar career at Cincinnati, Gardner should join that list.
“Sauce” famously didn’t allow a touchdown in his three years with the Bearcats, and his skill and size combination makes him the CB1 of the 2022 draft class. While he’s technically competing with Derek Stingley Jr. and Andrew Booth Jr. for that honor, it will be surprising if Gardner doesn’t come off the board first.
Gardner’s actual competition is comprised of the other elite players at the top of the draft. Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Travon Walker, Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu, and others are battling to become top-five picks.
Gardner isn’t in consideration to go to the Jacksonville Jaguars at the top of the draft, and the Lions will probably go in a different direction after using a top-three 2020 selection on the disappointing Okudah. Still, there are plenty of cornerback-needy teams within the top 10.
Houston Texans
Gardner is unlikely to be available when Houston’s second first-round pick comes up at No. 13, so if they want to grab him, they’ll need to do so at No. 3. Nearly every part of Houston’s roster needs an overhaul. With two early Round 1 selections, the Texans need to hit on the cream of the crop at important positions.
The Texans have made it clear they don’t plan to draft a first-round quarterback to replace Davis Mills, and wide receiver seems unlikely at No. 3. Therefore, they’re probably deciding between an offensive tackle like Neal or Ekwonu, an edge rusher such as Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, or Walker, a unicorn safety prospect in Kyle Hamilton, or Gardner.
New York Jets
The Jets wisely used free agency to solidify many of their need areas, so they shouldn’t feel desperate to draft a specific position in the first round. However, general manager Joe Douglas can still afford to upgrade plenty of roster spots. Like the Texans, New York holds two first-round picks in 2022 (No. 4 and No. 10).
Douglas and Co. will need to determine which positions they’ll put a premium on with their two Round 1 choices. In the end, their decision-making process will turn into something of a give-and-take scenario.
If the Jets select Gardner at No. 4, they could miss out on EDGE prospects like Thibodeaux or Walker, who could be gone at 10. That could force them to “settle” for DEs such as George Karlaftis or Jermaine Johnson II.
If they go with a pass rusher at fourth overall, New York likely won’t have the chance to pick Gardner with their second first-rounder. Instead, they could target Stingley, Booth, or Trent McDuffie at No. 10.
New York Giants
As New York teams with two first-round picks, the Jets and Giants will face similar decision-making trees in the first round. However, Big Blue arguably has even more needs, and their two selections are bunched even closer together at No. 5 and No. 7.
Assuming they don’t trade down from either spot, the Giants will likely come away with two players at prime positions. Offensive tackle, pass rusher, and cornerback are all need areas for New York, and new general manager Joe Schoen will have plenty of prospects to choose from.
Gardner may be a better fit for the Giants at pick No. 7, if only because of the team picking at No. 6. The Panthers’ first-round pick is sandwiched between New York’s two choices, and if they don’t target a quarterback, Carolina could go after an offensive tackle. If the Giants want an OT, they should take one at No. 5 and hope Gardner is still around at seventh overall.
Atlanta Falcons
Given the makeup of the top of the draft, Gardner could slip to the Falcons at No. 8. It would likely entail the top three pass rushers (Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, and Walker) and the top three tackles (Neal, Ekwonu, and Charles Cross) — plus one other prospect like Hamilton, Malik Willis, or a WR — coming off the board at 1-7.
Atlanta has a roster full of holes, including pressing needs at quarterback and wide receiver. But it’s hard to argue they don’t need defensive back help after ranking 29th in expected points added per dropback in 2021.
A.J. Terrell is one of the best cornerbacks in football, and the Falcons signed veteran Casey Hayward to serve as CB2. Hayward is entering his age-33 campaign, though. You don’t pass up the chance to build one of the league’s best cornerback duos based on the presence of a player entering the tail end of his career. Plus, Hayward primarily played the slot with the Green Bay Packers from 2012-15 and could conceivably move back there.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks traded Russell Wilson this offseason, while left tackle Duane Brown remains on the open market, meaning two of the team’s longest-tenured players aren’t part of the 2022 equation. Seattle could target a replacement for either veteran at No. 9. Yet, the top three OTs may already be gone, while the Seahawks might not be interested in a quarterback in the top 10.
In that scenario, Gardner would likely be the last elite player available at a premium position. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll — a longtime defensive backs specialist — hasn’t historically spent first-round capital on cornerbacks. But Seattle’s CB depth chart is headlined by Sidney Jones, Artie Burns, and Justin Coleman. They desperately need an injection of youth.
