PFF’s correct Sauce Gardner ranking sparks ridiculous uproar from NFL fans

Sauce Gardner might be the most disrespected superstar in football. Despite being named a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two NFL seasons — something no other cornerback in league history has ever done — the New York Jets standout has become a lightning rod for criticism.

His 2024 season wasn't quite as dominant as his first two years, but Gardner still played at an exceptionally high level, just not enough, apparently, to quiet the noise.

That noise got even louder this week after Pro Football Focus released its cornerback rankings for the 2025 season, listing Gardner at No. 1 overall. The decision sparked immediate backlash, particularly from fans who believed Patrick Surtain II, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, deserved the top spot instead.

But the backlash says more about Gardner’s bizarre public perception than it does about his actual performance. The facts, as always, tell a very different story.

"Gardner’s 91.9 PFF coverage grade since 2022 leads the league. He has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap and 21.4% first-down-plus-touchdown rate over that span. Unsurprisingly, Gardner's PFF advanced coverage grade ranks first, as well. While he might not shadow opposing wide receivers at a high rate, he has excelled when asked to do so."

John Kosko, PFF

NY Jets' Sauce Gardner is still the NFL's best cornerback

Gardner’s resume through three NFL seasons is already one of the most impressive in league history. He became the first cornerback ever to be named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons, and in both 2022 and 2023, he was widely viewed as the league’s premier shutdown corner.

As a rookie, Gardner allowed the fewest yards and catches among all qualified cornerbacks (min. 500 coverage snaps). He also led the league in catch rate allowed and ranked second in pass breakups, all while being targeted deeper downfield on average than nearly anyone else.

His 2023 season was just as dominant. Gardner once again finished near the top in every major coverage metric and solidified himself as a generational talent. His PFF coverage grades in those two seasons? 90.2 and 90.8, an absurd level of consistency at a position known for wild year-to-year variance.

Yes, 2024 was a down year by Gardner’s lofty standards. He was flagged 10 times, struggled with missed tackles early in the season, and saw his PFF coverage grade dip to 73.1. Still, Gardner allowed just 25 catches, the fewest of any qualified cornerback in the NFL. That’s his “bad” season.

Compare that to Surtain, who was undeniably elite in 2024. He earned an 85.1 PFF coverage grade and showcased his usual strong tackling, though he was actually flagged more than Gardner (11 penalties).

But in 2023, his down year, Surtain allowed 56 catches for 701 yards, posted a 64.7 coverage grade, and surrendered a 93.9 passer rating when targeted. That season was significantly worse than anything Gardner has produced in the NFL.

This isn’t a knock on Surtain, who is undeniably one of the top cornerbacks in the game. If someone wants to argue he’s CB1 entering 2025, that’s a perfectly reasonable take.

But when viewed through a three-year lens, no cornerback has matched Gardner’s consistency or dominance since entering the league. That’s what makes PFF’s ranking not just fair, but arguably correct.

Just because the masses on Twitter repeat false narratives and scream that Sauce Gardner is overrated doesn’t make it true. His resume and the cold, hard facts speak louder than the noise.

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