Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner NFL Draft Prospect Profile

Yahoo Sports’ lead draft analyst Eric Edholm shares his evaluation of the Cincinnati cornerback.

Video transcript

[SOUND EFFECTS] [MUSIC PLAYING] ERIC EDHOLM: OK, let's talk about Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner. You might know him better as "Sauce". That's a great nickname, pretty spicy, and he's got the game to back it up. For his upside, Gardner checks off a lot of boxes at cornerback. Great length at 6 foot 3, 33 and 1/2 inch arms, great production-- 9 interceptions in 3 years, including two picks 6s, plus he never allowed a touchdown of coverage in college. He also ran a 4.41 40 yard dash, so he's got the athletic quotient as well. On the downside, Gardner has a bit of a thin build, skinny legs. He isn't built for every type of defensive system. And Sauce isn't a big hitter either. He's also got a tendency to be a little handsy and a little grabby in coverage. Our comp for him, kind of a thinner, longer version of JC Jackson, who just signed a big deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.