After the Jets finished the season with a 5-12 record, two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner reflected on how he can improve as a leader. Although it wasn't the season he hoped for, Gardner believes he grew in immeasurable ways, on and off the field, in his third year in the NFL.

"My mental wasn't all the way there in terms of my positivity, like it should have been," he said. "I could have improved when it came to that. I definitely want to be a part of the solution when it comes to turning this organization around, getting us to the playoffs and getting to the Super Bowl. So, I'm definitely going to be better [next season].

"In all three of my years, this is the most adversity that we faced as a team. For me individually, all the adversity that we face as a team, I put it on my shoulders. It makes it hard for me to sleep at night even if it's stuff that doesn't have anything to do with me directly. This year has definitely helped me. I've grown a lot going through all of this adversity and now I realize adversity is a gift. It shows you who you truly are and who the ones around you truly are as well."

Even through the adversity, there were still positives for Gardner. He played in 15 games, was targeted 47 times, allowed 25 receptions, allowed 1 touchdown and had 1 interception. The 47 targets were the fewest in his three-year career.

Pro Football Focus tracks a stat called Forced Incompletions Percentage, which helps measure all forced incompletions (pass breakups, interceptions, tight coverage) and divides them by total targets for a percentage rate. Gardner had the third highest forced incompletion percentage (22%) in zone coverage among all cornerbacks who played at least 50% of the snaps this season.

"I always got those things that I want to be better at," Gardner said. "I missed a decent amount of tackles, so I want to make sure I clean those up for next year. I think I only allowed one touchdown, which is pretty similar to what I've allowed the last couple years. I've allowed 300-something yards, which is close to what I've had the last two years. I actually was targeted less. This past season, I only had like 45 targets, my rookie year I had 70-something targets and last year was probably like 50 something. So those are things that people not going to tell you when it comes to me, they're just going to try to pick up the little things. But I'm Sauce Gardener, so that's just what comes with it."

Now focusing on offseason improvement, Gardner knows he has a standard to uphold as a leader and top cornerback next season.

"I don't like limiting myself," Gardner said about his offseason goals. "That's why I don't like just saying a couple things. Obviously, going through the basic fundamentals. I always work on those each and every year. For all adversity we went through, I have a better plan in case adversity ever hits. I know how I have to be since I know so many people watch me and view me a certain type of way. So, that's the main thing, to just being that shining light.

"I definitely want to see a top five defense, without a doubt. The mentality has to be there, playing this game for the man next to you and all of us having that accountability to just do our jobs."