When you think about the prototypical defensive back (cornerback and safety) in the NFL, you think of a long, lengthy, fast player that can cover as much ground as possible in a very pass heavy National Football League. When thinking about young defensive backs that can keep these wide receivers locked up, Sauce Gardner fits the description as the prime suspect.
And he would prove it week in and week out against some of the top receivers in the NFL.
The hype around Gardner was real, as he came out of the University of Cincinnati without allowing a single touchdown in pass coverage throughout his four year college career. He would be touted as one of the best corner prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft.
He would then get drafted by the New York Jets with the fourth overall pick. We knew he was good.
But, sheesh.
Little did we know that Gardner was going to be as special as he was.
So just how special was Gardner in his first year?
In a league that has had some phenomenal players play defensive back, we’re going to dive into the five best rookie seasons put together at the league’s hardest positions.
5. Deion Sanders, Cornerback, Atlanta Falcons – 1989
STATS:
39 Tackles
5 Interceptions
2 Forced Fumbles
1 Fumble Recovery
1 Punt Return Touchdown
“Prime Time,” the greatest of all time at the cornerback position, doesn’t take the top spot on this list. However, that’s not to say that he didn’t put together a phenomenal start to his legendary professional career. The Atlanta Falcons would take Sanders fifth overall in the 1989 NFL draft after a great college career at Florida State. Teams that tried him would either see the ball batted on the ground, or in the hands of number 21 in a Falcons uniform. With the threat of him as a return man as well, Sanders would establish himself as one of the most dynamic playmakers after his first season in the league.
4. Patrick Peterson, Cornerback, Arizona Cardinals – 2011
STATS:
64 Total Tackles
2 Interceptions
2 Fumble Recoveries
1 Sack
4 Punt Return Touchdowns
I don’t think a lot of people remember just how good Peterson was back in 2011. Coming out of LSU, Peterson was taken fifth overall in that year’s draft by the Arizona Cardinals. As good as Sanders was his rookie year, you could argue that Peterson was just as good, if not better. Wearing the same number as his predecessor, Peterson let the entire league know that he was worthy, as he quickly established himself as a shutdown corner, and a game changing punt returner. His four punt return touchdowns would set a new record for the entire NFL, not just rookies.
3. Sauce Gardner, Cornerback, New York Jets – 2022
STATS:
75 Total Tackles
2 Interceptions
20 Pass Deflections
2 Safeties
You won’t get wowed by the stats, but that’s really only because there came a point during the season that opposing quarterbacks wouldn’t even try the rookie corner. Sauce was the epitome of what you wanted out of a cornerback during his rookie year. He would be named 1st Team All-Pro (the highest honor given to a player at a given position) while also winning Defensive Rookie of the Year, and is already being touted by many as the best cornerback in the NFL at this point. Extremely high praise as Sauce will look to build off of what is a brilliant start to his NFL career.
2. Dick “Night Train” Lane, Cornerback, St. Louis Rams – 1952
STATS:
14 Interceptions
2 Defensive Touchdowns
1 Safety
“Night Train” played so long ago that tackles weren’t even a counted stat yet. Despite that, it doesn’t take away from a rookie season that will never happen again. He was drafted to the St. Louis Rams back in 1952, and would set the NFL record for interceptions in a season, a mark that has yet to be broken, and probably never will be (Trevon Diggs did come close 2 seasons ago with 10 interceptions).
1. Ronnie Lott, Safety, San Francisco 49ers – 1981
STATS:
89 Tackles
7 Interceptions
2 Fumble Recoveries
3 Defensive Touchdowns
The lone safety on the list takes the crown for the greatest rookie season put together by a defensive back. Lott was selected eighth overall in the 1981 draft, and would immediately be known for his impressive ball-hawk skills, and hard hitting play. Lott, a safety throughout his entire career, actually played corner his rookie year, and would finish with 1st team All-Pro honors in a position he probably shouldn’t have been playing in the first place. Unlike everybody else on this list, Lott would end his stellar rookie season with a Super Bowl championship as the 49ers would defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 26–21 in Super Bowl XVI. An all-time finish for the all-time rookie defensive back.
So, Sauce was pretty good last season! Just not good enough for that top spot. But having your name in a conversation with 4 of the games greatest to ever play the position is a pretty good spot to be in after your rookie season.
Despite the up and down season from last year that consisted of a lot of bad for the Jets, Gardner would be a huge bright spot on a top five defense in the league last year.
So rejoice, Jets fans. This is the first time since the Darrelle Revis era that the Jets have had a corner that was this good, and there’s plenty of confidence in the young corner to say that Gardner is trending in the right direction in what looks to be a stellar NFL career.