3 reasons the Vikings must draft CB Sauce Gardner in 2022
By Dean Jones
Gardner being an alpha mentality
Aside from being an elite performer and arguably the No. 1 cornerback in the 2022 class, Sauce Gardner also has the mentality to match. This is a prospect that is not short of confidence, and even though that does rub some people up the wrong way, it’s a characteristic that will ensure the smoothest of transitions to the next level.
We saw something similar from Jaycee Horn from the moment he stepped on the field for the Carolina Panthers last season. He instantly shifted the mindset within their secondary with an alpha attitude that brought tremendous production before his broken foot and pushed others around him to be better as a result.
Gardner has a similar mindset, which could serve the Minnesota Vikings well, providing he is still on the board. It’s easy for young players at the position to become demoralized against a steep increase in competition, but that doesn’t appear as if it’s going to be a complication for the former Bearcat.
Having the swagger to match the talent could make Gardner a target of sorts. But one thing the player does more than anything else is back up his big talk with action between the white lines.
This is just another thing that makes Gardner such a special talent. If he can develop his ability to assist in support against the run, then he’ll be the complete package.