Sauce Gardner boldly claps back at haters after PFF cornerback rating

The NY Jets have one of the very best players in all of football at their disposal in All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, but he continues to be on the receiving end of some truly puzzling commentary about his overall level of quality. Despite what Twitter thinks, Gardner is a top-three cornerback in football.

Even after what many deemed the worst season of the two-time All-Pro corner's career, Gardner was still at the very top of many important coverage stats. Even if Denver Broncos Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II has passed him, the lowest ranking Gardner should end up based on performance alone is No. 4 or 5 across all NFL cornerbacks.

Gardner was actually ranked as the top cornerback in football by Pro Football Focus, even managing to come out in front of Surtain following his DPOY win. Gardner is not going to let this bit of praise go unmentioned.

Gardner took time to revel in this victory, making fun of the "fake and forced narratives" that seek to tear him down. Anyone who watches the top cornerbacks in the game can see that few, if any, come close to what Gardner can do.

Jets CB Sauce Gardner claps back at haters after PFF ranking

Gardner may not be the best tackler in the world, but many of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history don't hit like Ray Lewis. Tackling for cornerbacks is like blocking for tight ends and running backs. They are valuable traits, but most fans and observers only really care about it when promoting their favorite player's agendas.

Gardner's "down year" still ended up with him allowing the fewest completions in the league, allowing just 33 catches one year after giving up 31 and earning an All-Pro nomination. Sauce has been in the league for three seasons, and he still hasn't given up more than one touchdown in any given season. He will soon be compensated like one of the best players in the league.

Gardner may need to work on his tackling if he wants to get back into the All-Pro conversation, but no one his doubting his ability to shut down even the best wide receivers out there. Perhaps new head coach Aaron Glenn will have him shadow top receivers more than Robert Saleh allowed.

All Gardner does is put up historically good coverage numbers for a young player with a great deal of style, yet he receives as much unwarranted mockery and scorn as any great player in the league. Getting back to his 2023 form will be the best way to silence all of these haters.

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