Two fully-formed superstar cornerbacks came into the league last year as rookies. The Seahawks got one of them in the fifth round of the draft with UTSA’s Tariq Woolen. The Jets got the other, taking Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner with a top-five pick. All season long fans debated which rookie corner is better, setting up a comparative rivalry for the remainder of their careers.
With the lone exception of passes defensed, Woolen’s traditional numbers are all superior to Gardner’s. However, Gardner is favored to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Pro Football Focus also seems to think Gardner’s game is better right now – having ranked him No. 1 in the NFL at his position with a league-best 88.5 overall rating. Meanwhile, Woolen ranked in the mid-30s. Here are the full top-35 corner grades from PFF this year.
Buy Seahawks TicketsOct 23, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Jets cornerback Michael Carter II (30) and cornerback…Nov 28, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II (2) celebrates with linebacker…Dec 4, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) scores a touchdown…Jan 8, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Duke Shelley (20) celebrates a defensive pass…Indianapolis Colts cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (34) signs a ball for a fan Sunday, Jan. 8,…Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) makes a…Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell (32) spikes the ball after picking up a fumble against the…Nov 27, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) acknkowledges the crowd…Dec 4, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore (5) returns an interception as…Dec 24, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) catches a…Sep 13, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) catches a touchdown…Sep 25, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean (35) against the Green…Oct 25, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates a touchdown…Oct 20, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf (14) is defended by…Nov 27, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller (29) celebrates with teammates after…Oct 9, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones (13) is congratulated by…Dec 22, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) carries the…Nov 30, 2020; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) makes a catch…Aug 12, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry (24) during warmups against the…Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Michael Davis (43) against the Los…Nov 23, 2019; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (2) catches a…Houston Texans cornerback Desmond King II (25) intercepts Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's, not shown, Hail…Dec 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) tackles Dallas Cowboys quarterback…Oct 9, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. (3) and cornerback…Nov 27, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) knocks Tampa Bay…Dec 18, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (4) celebrates…Oct 17, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) is stopped by…Nov 13, 2022; Munich, Germany; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (11) catches a touchdown pass…Oct 2, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn (8) during pregame activity…Green Bay Packers' Rasul Douglas breaks up a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks' Penny Hart during…Oct 30, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) recovers a fumble…Dec 26, 2021; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans cornerback Tavierre Thomas (37) returns an interception for…Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) attempts to catch…Dec 24, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II (20) breaks up a…SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 08: Tariq Woolen #27 of the Seattle Seahawks and Jalen Ramsey #5…
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