'Overrated' assessments of ex-Jet Sauce Gardner have gone too far

When the New York Jets made the tough decision to trade away Sauce Gardner at last year's trade deadline, it was a bit easier to digest thanks to the absolute monster haul they got back from the Indianapolis Colts.

If it weren't for the two first-round picks (one of which became Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq) and the addition of wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, Jets fans likely would've been far more upset about the departure of the former Defensive Rookie of the Year and All-Pro had it not been for the aforementioned haul.

But some Jets fans were happy to see Gardner go. After his first two seasons of dominance, Sauce took a step back in 2024 and struggled early in 2025. There were accusations that the former first-round pick was overrated, and it seems FanSided's experts tend to agree.

Gardner was ranked as the ninth-most overrated player in the NFL by a panel of experts, and for some understandable reasons. However, Sauce is still one of the better cornerbacks in the league, and he should get some level of respect for that.

Ex-New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner is not as overrated as people think

FanSided's Jason Reed defended Gardner's ranking as the ninth-most overrated player in the NFL, and laid out the reasons why his placement makes sense.

"Gardner's reputation as an overrated player likely stems from the asinine trade the Colts made for the cornerback last season. Indianapolis bought into the idea of being a Super Bowl contender and traded not one, but two first-round picks for Gardner."

It feels like those who voted for Gardner really leaned on the fact that his trade price was not worth what he brings as a player, but is that really his fault? Two things can be true: Sauce is one of the best coverage corners in the league, and he wasn't necessarily worth two first-round picks and a high-upside player.

Listen, Gardner is not the best cornerback in football. He's not Patrick Surtain II, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, and there's a conversation to be had between him and Texans star Derek Stingley Jr.

But it can't be denied that his size and athleticism make him one of the biggest threats for opposing offenses in coverage, even if he struggles to force turnovers.

Despite an injury-plagued 2025 season, Gardner still graded out as Pro Football Focus's ninth-highest-graded cornerback (go figure) with an overall grade of 76.9. Despite being tabbed as a weak tackler, Sauce also received a grade of 84.5 for his run defense, fourth-highest amongst his peers.

Gardner may not be worth the exact price it took to pry him away from the Jets, but that doesn't change the fact that he's one of the league's top cornerbacks. Blame the overrated takes on Colts general manager Chris Ballard.

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