Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Get exclusive insights and behind-the scenes access to the Miguel Delaney: inside newsletter Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football The New York Jets has traded star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. Jets will receive two first round draft picks, 2026-2027, and wide receiver Adonai. The transaction is conditional upon the successful completion of physical examinations.“Having the opportunity to acquire a talented player like Sauce Gardner was one we did not want to pass on,” Colts General Manager Chris Ballard made the following statement. Gardner, who was an All-Pro in each of his first two years, signed a contract extension in July with the Jets for four years and $120.4 million. He appeared to be a key player for both new coach Aaron Glenn, and general manager Darren Mougey.“New York it’s been real,” It was the first of Mougey’s two major trades before Tuesday’s deadline. New York also agreed to trade defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to Dallas for a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027 and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, two people with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams hadn’t announced the trade.Gardner was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Cincinnati and quickly established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks during his first two seasons with the Jets. He was selected the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year and made the All-Pro team in consecutive years — the only cornerback to do so in his first two seasons since the 1970 merger — for then-coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.He had a slightly down year, by his standards, last season and was excited to play for Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Gardner received a big extension from the Jets that made him NFL’s highest paid cornerback. The Jets rewarded Gardner in July with a big extension that made him the NFL’s highest-paid Cornerback.“He was a player that we scouted heavily coming out of college and there’s a reason he was the fourth overall pick,” Ballard said. “Sauce is a proven cornerback. His skill and competitive nature will elevate everyone’s play on the defensive unit. We’re thrilled he’s a Colt.”Indy was scrambling to fill holes in the secondary, which had been ravaged by injuries even before regular season began. In the off-season, the Colts signed Charvarius and Cam Bynum as free agents to help revamp a struggling secondary. The Colts even tried cornerback Xavien Howard, a two-time NFL interceptions champ who did not play in 2024, after losing two promising rookies — safety Hunter Wohler and cornerback Justin Walley — with season-ending injuries in training camp.Howard retired after playing just four games. Ward is now on injured reserve after suffering a concussion in a collision during pregame warmups on Oct. 12.Indy’s latest attempt to find a solution came last weekend when third-year cornerback Jaylon Jones was activated off injured reserve. He played reasonably well in a loss to Pittsburgh, but the defense’s performance in that game demonstrated the Colts still needed to reinforce their biggest weakness on the team — the secondary.Gardner could fit the bill.The trade evoked memories of the deal New York made in 2012 when it sent Darrelle Revis – to whom Gardner was often compared for his ability to shut down receivers – to Tampa Bay in 2013 for two draft picks, including a first-rounder.New York is shuffling its secondary in the middle of its poor season. The Jets have traded for Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and acquired the 2024 fifth rounder from Tennessee. Last Wednesday, they dealt nickel cornerback Michael Carter III to Philadelphia. Wilson has had a knee problem that has kept him out of the last two games. New York was looking for another player to take the place of Josh Reynolds amongst a group including Tyler Johnson, Allen Lazard, and rookie Arian. 2 to help quarterback Justin Fields.The Colts had high hopes for Mitchell when they drafted him and thought he could push another young receiver, Alec Pierce — a former college teammate of Gardner — to fulfill his potential.Pierce responded by averaging a league-high 22.3 yards per catch last season and is second in the NFL this season at 20.9 yards.Mitchell, however, disappointed. Just when Mitchell appeared to be emerging this season, his progression was stalled by a big blunder — dropping the ball before crossing the goal line against the Los Angeles Rams, costing him the first score of his career and resulting in a touchback. Indy fell 27-20. In Colts five games following that embarrassing gaffe, Mitchell appeared in four of them and hauled two of four targets for a total 15 yards. Mitchell has 32 catches and 462 yards. He has four carries totaling 6 yards. His only pass attempt in the past two seasons was for 24 yard.“AD Mitchell is a great person and a great player,” Ballard stated. “We believe he will have success in New York, and we wish him the best as he enters the next chapter of his career.”
2025-11-04 22:10:49
Sauce Gardner traded by New York Jets to Indianapolis Colts in stunning deadline deal
