PFF just confirmed what Jets fans already knew about Sauce Gardner

I'm not sure exactly why this is, but many people seem to be reluctant to give Sauce Gardner his flowers. The New York Jets haven't done a lot right in recent years, but one thing they have done right is draft and lock up the two-time All-Pro. He is the single best cornerback on the planet — full stop.

But no matter what source you read or listen to, it's hard to find unanimous alignment on this. In fact, I find it hard to find many outside of Jet-land who are willing to admit this out loud. Is it the Jets stench? Perhaps. But he shouldn't be penalized for that.

He deserves to be acknowledged for what he is, and that is better than anyone else at his position. Finally, thanks to Pro Football Focus' Dalton Wasserman, he is once again receiving that recognition.

"I still think he's the best cornerback in football."

Dalton Wasserman

It's nice to hear it from the national media, but this is not news to Jets fans. With an infusion of energy in the building, this is the season where Gardner can make his place on the cornerback list crystal clear. It won't hurt to have a former Pro Bowl cornerback clearing the path for him as head coach, either.

Aaron Glenn can help unlock Sauce Gardner's Jets ceiling

The Jets' new head coach doesn't don a gold jacket, but Glenn was a terrific pro for years. He cut his teeth as a cornerback before moving into the coaching world. In this world, he didn't cut corners or skip lines thanks to his professional background.

He started as a scout, worked his way up, and proved he can teach defensive football even better than he played it. Not that Gardner needs much "teaching," but pairing a Sensei this qualified with a student like him, the results could be destructive.

However, as mentioned, this won't be a new development. It will simply further stamp the fact that Sauce is better than the best cornerback on your team. While player chirping and fan chatter haven't been in agreement, Pro Football Focus consistently has.

Not only did Wasserman rightfully declare Gardner's place atop the food chain, but they have also ranked Gardner as the No. 1 cornerback multiple seasons in a row now.

In fact, PFF hasn't simply anointed him their corner king, but their overall best defensive back as well. Their "PFF50" solidified as much, with Gardner topping the list ahead of No. 2 Patrick Surtain II and No. 4 Trent McDuffie, the two closest corners behind him.

PFF is clearly an ally, but there's plenty of media that is not so favorable. CBS Sports ranked him behind Surtain in their top 100 players list, and ESPN ranked him fifth... yes, you heard that right, fifth... in their cornerback rankings this season. That is just comedy. I won't even waste my time or yours with the four names ahead of him.

The good news is that PFF uses real metrics that actually matter, such as his 91.9 coverage grade since 2022, which leads the league, and his league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap during that time. ESPN relies on subjective hot takes from the likes of "Mad Dog" Russo and Stephen A. Smith, among others. I won't lose sleep over them.

All of these lists really don't matter. All that matters is the output on the field. Sauce Gardner's output has been better than anyone else at his position since he entered the league.

All he can do is continue to play at that high level and contribute to a great defense. If the overall defense performs the way it should, everyone will notice Gardner, and the accolades will continue to follow.

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