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.
