NFL Scouts Split on Sauce Gardner: ‘1 of the Most Overrated Players’; CB ‘The Best’

New York Jets star Sauce Gardner is widely regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the league, but not everyone is convinced of his effectiveness.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler conducted his annual top 10 poll and Gardner was ranked No. 3 among cornerbacks. However, he wasn’t immune from criticism, with one detractor declaring that his skills aren’t as high as many believe.

“One of the most overrated players in the league,” a high-ranking NFL personnel evaluator said of Gardner. “You could call holding on him every play.”

Fowler added that some “established personnel executives left him off the top 10 altogether.”

The 23-year-old earned first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two years in the NFL. While he has just two career interceptions, he’s defended 31 passes and forced quarterbacks to stay away from him. During the 2023 season, he was targeted just 57 times and allowed 366 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the criticisms for being handsy and not generating turnovers, Gardner has impressed enough in his young career that some believe there’s no better player at his position.

“Who else with his length and size (6-foot-3) can cover like him?” a veteran AFC scout said. “He’s the best.”