The 2018 NBA Draft was a historic day for the Brooklyn Nets, who selected Nassir Little as their first ever pick. The No. 38 overall selection also marked an important milestone in history: It was the first time a player had been drafted before playing his college season.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner made history before even playing a single game. The former Duke basketball player was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round of this year’s NBA Draft.
The New York Jets may have just discovered their Darrelle Revis. New York picked former Cincinnati Bearcats standout Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner with the No. 4 overall choice in the 2022 NFL Draft, presumably to upgrade a defense that allowed the third-most passing yards previous season.
Gardner has the ability to turn into a Jets superstar. He’s a world-class athlete who is a quarterback’s worst nightmare. The cornerback even made history at the draft.
Gardner became the highest-drafted Cincinnati player ever when he was selected fourth overall by the Jets.
Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner was the highest-drafted player in the history of the Cincinnati Bearcats.
On April 28, 2022, Gardner, Ahmad (from left) poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at the 2022 NFL Draft. | Getty Images/David Becker
At Cincinnati, Sauce had a stellar career. In 2021, he was a unanimous All-American who never allowed a touchdown pass in his whole career. Last season, his performance on a powerful Bearcats defense helped the club reach the College Football Playoff for the first time, becoming the first non-Power Five team to accomplish it.
Gardner’s potential as an all-time great cornerback prompted the Jets to choose him with the fourth overall choice in the 2022 NFL Draft this week. Only Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, and Derek Stingley Jr. advanced farther.
He has a chance to become the team’s first lockdown corner since Revis, who was a four-time first-team All-Pro and was selected to seven Pro Bowls during his illustrious career.
Gardner told ESPN, “When I think about the Jets, I think about Darrelle Revis.” “He was one of my favorite cornerbacks in the past. I still watch him (on film) to this day.”
Unlike Revis, who hails from Pittsburgh, which has produced legends like as Aaron Donald, Larry Fitzgerald, and Dan Marino, Gardner became the highest-drafted athlete in the history of his school. Sauce overtook former UC quarterback Greg Cook, who was selected fifth overall in the 1969 NFL selection by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Sauce has the potential to become the greatest Cincinnati Bengals player in NFL history… However, it will need some effort.
So, who were some of Cincinnati’s previous top choices in the past?
The following is a list of the school’s top picks based on the overall pick in which the players were selected. It’s worth noting that the structure of the draft has evolved throughout time. Some players were drafted in the fifth round but would go No. 34 overall.
| Player | Year | Pick |
| Gardner, Ahmad | 2022 | 4th |
| Greg Cook | 1969 | 5th |
| Bob Bell | 1971 | 21st |
| Ron Kostelnik (Ron Kostelnik) | 1961 | 26th |
| Ullom, Verne | 1944 | 34th |
| Morrison, Joe | 1959 | 34th |
| Bob Taylor* is a fictional character. | 1965 | 35th |
| Al Nelson | 1965 | 35th |
| Jim Leo | 1960 | 36th |
| Derek Wolfe is a writer who lives in New York City | 2012 | 36th |
| Dennis Smith* is a fictional character. | 1965 | 39th |
| Roger Stephens is a well-known author. | 1947 | 42nd |
| Gordon, Alex | 1987 | 42nd |
| Hawkins, Artrell | 1998 | 43rd |
| Barwin, Connor | 2009 | 46th |
| Jamison, George | 1984 | 47th |
| Pead, Isaiah | 2012 | 50th |
| Mike Woods is a writer and musician. | 1978 | 52nd |
| Shalosky, Bill | 1953 | 53rd |
| Jacky Lee | 1960 | 61st |
| Travis Kelce is a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboy | 2013 | 63rd |
* was recruited into the Australian Football League (AFL)
Gardner has a chance to become the greatest pro player in program history, despite the fact that the school does not have a long history of NFL success. It will, however, require some effort.
Only seven former UC players have earned Pro Bowl selections, and he can easily surpass the careers of five of them (Elbie Nickel, Trent Cole, Ray Nolting, Barwin, Connor, and Kevin Huber). However, two players have earned multiple first-team All-Pro selections, and they will be the toughest ones for Gardner to pass if he wants to become the greatest Bearcat ever.
The Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, are those players. The former is a three-time first-team All-Pro tight end who has been in seven Pro Bowls. He has over 9,000 receiving yards in his career and owns the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season. Jason, on the other hand, has been named to the All-Pro first team four times as a center. He’s a five-time Pro Bowler as well. Both brothers have been Super Bowl champions.
Sauce has the ability to become the greatest Cincinnati player of all time. To beat out the Kelce brothers, he’ll have to put in a lot of effort. Travis and Jason are legends in their own right.
Pro Football Reference provides draft history.
Sauce Gardner, an NFL draft prospect, explains the meaning of his cool nickname.
Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner made history before even playing a single game. He is the first player to be drafted in the NFL with a 40 time under 4.3 seconds. Reference: ahmad gardner 40 time.
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