After a historic start to his career earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections, Jets CB Sauce Gardner is seeking a leadership role in his third season.

"I am really trying to make sure I am being more vocal this year," Gardner said on Wednesday. "When I am out there, I am making sure I am not keeping any secrets. Coach [Robert] Saleh said earlier that if you want to get somewhere fast, go alone, but if you want to go far then go together. So that has been the main thing. It is not just about me."

Gardner, the first cornerback since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 to be named a first-team All-Pro in consecutive seasons to begin an NFL career, had the opportunity to learn and grow under veterans like CB D.J. Reed and LB C.J. Mosley. Entering Year 3, Gardner, 23, is looking to pay it forward.

"I am much more comfortable now being a leader than I was two years ago," he said. "I began to see it during OTAs, the younger guys would ask me a lot of stuff and it would make me feel old even though I am still young. I would be lying if it didn't make me happy being able to teach them the tricks and things I know. It is different, but I love it."

Gardner has taken rookie CB Qwan'tez Stiggers and second-year defender Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who moved from safety to corner this offseason, under his wing.

The Jets selected Stiggers (5-11, 203) out of the Canadian Football League with the 176th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Stiggers had the team's first interception of training camp in Wednesday's practice when he picked off undrafted rookie QB Austin Peasley on a pass down the sideline.

"I was talking to Stiggers because he made a lot of plays in OTAs and I told him it is only training camp so let's not make it more than what it is," Gardner said. "We are going to compete regardless. This is just OTAs with more people watching, and I think he understood."

Bernard-Converse (6-1, 197), drafted in the sixth round (No. 204) from LSU, missed all of training camp in 2023 due to a foot injury. He began last season on the physically unable to perform list and made his debut Week 11. He played four snaps on defense and 101 on special teams in eight games.

In Wednesday's practice, he made a nice read on the ball and broke up Tyrod Taylor's pass intended for WR Irvin Charles.

"They are both similar," Gardner said of the young corners. "Mentally, they are so willing to learn. That is one thing I can say about the guys in our room, they bring guys that are hungry and willing to learn. The stuff that we learn in the meeting room, they take it and transfer it right to the field and make plays."

While Gardner is trying to take on somewhat of a different role than his first two seasons in the league, his primary focus is still building on his early success.

"I am just trying to come and day-in and day-out be the best teammate I can be," he said. "None of the accolades change the fact that I am still trying to be a sponge. I still don't know everything that I need to know, I am not perfect. I am still trying to find ways to improve my game and help others goes along with that."