Analytics Site Confirms Sauce Gardner’s Status.

A second consecutive nomination to the All-Pro First Team followed the Pro Bowl nod. Sauce Gardner’s performance has been further validated by Pro Football Focus’s analytics-based rankings, which rank the New York Jets cornerback among the NFL’s best.

Gardner was rated highest overall by PFF among cornerbacks; Jets slot corner Michael Carter II was ranked seventh overall. Despite only being targeted 3.18 times a game, New York’s CB1 held opposition receivers to 15.6 yards per game, according to PFF.

The 23-year-old Gardner became the first cornerback to start his NFL career with back-to-back selections to the All-Pro First Team since 1970 after earning an invitation to the Pro Bowl Games for the second time in a row. In his first two professional seasons, he became just the second player in franchise history to make it to the Pro Bowl.

“That’s what I’m here for. I’m trying to make history, trying to make history every year,” said Gardner through the team’s official website.”It’s a blessing to be able to play this game I love and a blessing to be in the Pro Bowl.”

FROM PFF’S FINAL 2023 NFL CORNERBACK RANKINGS:

“At the position, he had the second-best coverage rating (90.8) and led his teammates in limiting separation on every route. Additionally, he finished third in forced incompletion rate (21.1%) and fourth in first downs allowed (11). He also gave up the second-fewest yards per cover snap (0.44).

This past season, only two NFL teams—Gardner and the Jets—kept their opponents’ pass yards per game below 170. The defense of New York gave up a league-low 4.57 yards per play. Gardner recorded 57 tackles and 11 passes defensed in 16 games, all of which he started. With 1,051 defensive snaps, the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year only missed one game in 2023 because of a concussion.