Cornerback Sauce Gardner has been everything the New York Jets could have hoped for when they selected him with the 4th overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft.

Since then, Gardner has racked up some of the following accolades through his first two years:

• 2x All Pro
• 2x Pro Bowl
• Defensive rookie of the year
• PFF’s top graded cornerback in 2022

Needless to say, Sauce has been one of the league’s best cornerbacks since he arrived on the scene in the NFL.

Where among the best does he rank?

Well, according to ESPN, at #3. Specifically, they recently released a position ranking among cornerbacks with results informed by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts.

Ahead of Gardner were Patrick Surtain (Denver Broncos) and Denzel Ward (Cleveland Browns). The reason for Gardner’s seemingly “undervalued” ranking is apparently due to a perception that he is susceptible to holding wide receivers, which could result in penalties down the line. Per the article, one voter said: “One of the most overrated players in the league. You could call holding on him every play.”

Overall, a ranking of #3 is still really great. In reality, the gaps between the players at the top end of the spectrum is quite narrow, so it’s probably justifiable. However, the ranking does seem a bit low to me at face value.

What do you think? Is Sauce the NFL’s third best corner?