According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New York Jets have traded Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in a blockbuster deal, just hours away from the NFL trade deadline.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed that New York acquired two first-round picks alongside wide receiver Adonai Mitchell from the Colts in exchange for the two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback.
The first-round picks are in 2026 and 2027.
This past offseason, Gardner signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with New York, leading fans to believe the 2022 first-round pick would remain with the Jets for years to come.
However, that was not the case.
While speculation swirled that Gang Green could part with some of their core pieces ahead of the league’s deadline, trading Gardner was never considered a realistic possibility.
A 2024 second-round selection out of Texas, Adonai Mitchell has shown glimpses of his explosive ability early in his pro career. His most notable highlight came in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, when he appeared to break free for a 76-yard score, until he lost control of the ball just shy of the goal line, turning a sure touchdown into a stunning turnover (a momant that Jets fans experianced with receiver Malachi Corley on Thursday Night Football in Week 9 of last season).
Since that miscue, the Texas product has struggled to find steady playing time, alternating between inactive status and limited snap counts that have kept his impact to a minimum.
Acquiring Mitchell reflects a similar approach that Jets general manager Darren Mougey used in previous moves, such as bringing in cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and defensive tackle Jowon Briggs, adding young, high-upside talents with multiple years left on their rookie contracts.
