Should Jets worry about extension after his surprising ranking in survey?

Sauce Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4M extension with the New York Jets on Tuesday, making him the league's highest-paid cornerback. But league insiders don't consider him the top corner. 

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler released his annual cornerback rankings on Thursday, determined by league executives, coaches and scouts who submit a ballot. This year's survey featured more than 70 voters. 

Gardner finished at No. 5, and one voter left him off their top 10. Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II, the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, was No. 1.

Gardner came in at No. 3 last year. A veteran AFC personnel staffer felt his play took a significant dip last season. 

"Needs a bounce-back year in 2025," they said, per Fowler. "Lots of missed tackles and penalties and didn't make many plays last year. Too much, too soon, and thought the NFL was easy."

Gardner, 24, earned consecutive first-team All-Pro nods in his first two seasons with the Jets. He led the NFL in passes defended (20 in 17 regular-season games) as a rookie during the 2022 season. 

Gardner remains one of the best cover corners in the league. He allowed just one touchdown catch in 15 regular-season games last season, via Pro Football Reference. The missed tackles, however, are hard to ignore. 

Gardner missed a career-high 19.7% of tackles in 16 games during the 2023 season, per PFR. That figure improved to 14% last season, but new head coach Aaron Glenn still wants the CB to work on his tackling. 

"Sauce didn't tackle as well as he could have last season," the coach told the media in March. "We know it's in him, and he's going to get back to doing that." 

Gardner committing more penalties last season should also raise concerns. According to NFLPenalties.com, he was flagged for 10 (one declined) last season, the most in his career.

Gardner is still elite. Pro Football Focus' John Kosko named him his No. 1 corner in his preseason rankings. 

Still, the financial reward raises expectations for Gardner. To meet them, he must play at an All-Pro level again this upcoming season.