For the second consecutive season, Pro Football Focus has ranked the Jets’ Sauce Gardner the top cornerback in the NFL. In addition, DL Quinnen Williams, WR Garrett Wilson and G Alijah Vera-Tucker graded well at their respective positions.
Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, started 15 games in 2024, his third professional season, and registered 49 tackles, 9 pass defenses and an interception.
“Gardner’s 91.9 PFF coverage grade since 2022 leads the league,” PFF NFL contributor John Kosko wrote. “He has forced a league-high 46 incompletions and allowed a league-low 0.60 yards per cover snap and 21.4% first-down-plus-touchdown rate over that span.
Gardner’s advanced coverage grade ranked first, as well, and he finished in the top 10 in both man and zone coverage grades.
“He might not shadow opposing wide receivers at a high rate,” Kosko wrote. “But he has excelled when asked to do so.”
Williams, an All-Pro in 2022, came at No. 4 in the interior defensive line ranking. He missed one game in ‘2024 and totaled 6.0 sacks and 18 QB hits en route to his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
“Williams’ production took a dip in 2024, as was the case for the Jets in general, leading to a 69.6 PFF overall grade,” NFL analyst Trevor Sikkema wrote. “Williams still ranks fifth among interior defenders in total PFF WAR (0.87) over the past three years.”