The Pro Bowl nod was followed by a second consecutive All-Pro First Team selection. If that's not enough evidence of Sauce Gardner's success at the highest level, then Pro Football Focus's analytics-based rankings have cemented the New York Jets' cornerback amongst the NFL's elite.
Gardner earned PFF's highest overall grade amongst cornerbacks, topping a list that also featured Jets' slot corner Michael Carter II at No. 7 overall. According to PFF, New York's CB1 limited opposing receivers to 15.6 yards per game while being targeted only 3.18 times per outing.
After earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl Games invitation, the 23-year-old Gardner became the first cornerback since 1970 to kick off his NFL career with back-to-back All-Pro First Team selections. He is only the second player in franchise history to earn his way to the Pro Bowl in each of his first pro two seasons.
"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:
"He earned the second-best coverage grade (90.8) at the position and ranked first among his peers when it came to preventing separation on all routes. He also allowed the second-fewest yards per cover snap (0.44) and finished third in forced incompletion rate (21.1%) and fourth in first downs allowed (11)."
Gardner and the Jets are one of two NFL teams to hold opponents under 170 yards pass yards per game this past season. New York's defense allowed a league-low 4.57 yards per play. PFF awarded the Jets' defensive backs' group a 94.4 pass coverage grade, the highest out of 32 teams.
In 16 games, all starts, Gardner totaled 57 tackles and 11 passes defensed. The 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year totaled 1,051 defensive snaps and missed one game due to a concussion in 2023.
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