NFL Executives Overwhelming Name Sauce Gardner NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

The vote was not close among NFL power brokers.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Dec 22, 2022 12:12 PM EST

In this story:

New York Jets

Cincinnati Bearcats

CINCINNATI — NFL Network's Tom Pelissero released his annual executive NFL awards survey and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner ran away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year vote.

He captured 18 of 26 votes, The only other player with a case is Seattle's Tariq Woolen (five votes). One voter abstained, one voted for Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson, and one voted for Houston's Jalen Pitre.

"Gardner leads the NFL with 16 passes defended and leads all NFL defensive backs with an 89.6 coverage grade, per PFF," Pelissero wrote. "The runner-up was Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen (five votes), who was drafted No. 153 overall -- 149 spots after Gardner went to New York at No. 4. Woolen is tied with Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the league lead in interceptions (6) and leads the NFL with eight total takeaways, the most by a rookie since Marcus Peters in 2015. (The last rookie to lead the NFL in takeaways was Orlando Thomas in 1995.)"

An anonymous executive loves what they've seen from Gardner in his first NFL season.

“He’s been extremely consistent for a rookie,” an NFC executive said of Gardner. “Sauce has been targeted 59 times; he’s only given up three explosive plays. He’s just helped make that pass rush that much better.”

Gardner is currently a -500 favorite to win the award. He is tracking towards more hardware after earning his first Pro Bowl berth as a rookie—while making history in the process.

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