Colts go all in on 2025 and make the biggest deal of the NFL trade deadline to acquire Jets CB Sauce Gardner
The Colts just did the unthinkable and landed Sauce Gardner ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
The Indianapolis Colts and GM Chris Ballard have smashed every single thought people had about this team into a billion pieces.
Ballard has often been referred to as “Bargain Bin Ballard” due to his passiveness at the trade deadline and free agency. Well, throw those opinions out the window. The Colts have reportedly made the most shocking move of the NFL trade deadline by acquiring New York Jets superstar CB Sauce Gardner.
Colts send two firsts and AD Mitchell for Sauce Gardner
The Colts are sending their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Jets, along with WR AD Mitchell, and in return, they get one of the NFL’s top CBs. Indianapolis completely reshaped its CB room with the move, as they now have one of the best trios in the league when healthy with Gardner, Ward, and Kenny Moore II.
The Colts have the best record in the NFL at 7-2 and have now told their fans and the world that they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
This is also a reunion for Sauce and Colts WR Alec Pierce, who played together at the University of Cincinnati. Pierce is a free agent after this season, but with the news that the Colts sent Mitchell to the Jets, I would say he’s a near lock to be re-signed.
This is not the same Ballard-led Colts of old. This team believes it is the real deal, and Ballard just dropped the mic on everyone who didn’t believe they were ready to go all in on this season.
Why would the Jets trade Sauce Gardner away
To get the Jets’ perspective on this deal, I spoke with A to Z NFL reporter Kyle Crabbs, who provided excellent insight on what the Jets’ plan might be moving forward.
“The deal, from the Jets’ perspective, is a stunner. New York chose to offer a monster contract extension to Gardner this summer, a vote of confidence for a player who was not part of this regime’s draft picks but was nevertheless considered a long-term cornerstone player.
“Once the Jets committed to the more than $30 million annual extension, it was assumed he’d be a centerpiece of the Jets’ defensive build for Aaron Glenn. Instead, after nine games, Gardner is moved, and New York’s extensive teardown continues. Just this season, they’ve moved nickel corner Michael Carter II and Gardner out of the room, while trading for former Titans corner Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
“It’s a move that is aided by minimal cap implications. The Jets will only carry $11 million in dead cap in 2026. Getting a receiver like Mitchell on a rookie contract only helps to boost the cap flexibility for the Jets as well. This is a team looking to shed salary and add young talent with cost-controlled years. Is Justin Fields the right player to throw him the football? Well, you probably know the answer to that question.
“But getting Gardner off the roster for the second half of this season and getting a second first-round pick should ensure the Jets have plenty of opportunities to find a quarterback sooner rather than later.” – Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports NFL analyst.
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