What happened: Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner dropped to ninth overall among his position in ESPN's latest survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts. The 24-year-old fell from fifth in last year's poll following a midseason trade from the New York Jets.
Why it matters: Evaluators cited missed tackles and a persistent lack of interceptions as primary reasons for his slide. Some coaches countered that playing a full year under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will stabilize his consistency in coverage.
By the numbers: Gardner's 39 passes defensed since entering the league in 2022 tie for second-most over that span, trailing only Alontae Taylor (40). He led the NFL in pass breakup percentage (3.1%) last season despite missing six games with a lingering calf injury.
What to watch: Gardner will look to rebuild his stock during his first full offseason in Indianapolis before the 2026 campaign kicks off.