Jets Trade Away Sauce Gardner in Blockbuster Deal

One of the most surprising moves coming out of the NFL’s trade deadline came straight from the Big Apple, as the New York Jets stunned the league by sending former First Team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for a substantial haul of draft capital. It was always clear that prying Gardner away from New York would require massive compensation, and in the end, the Colts delivered just that—parting with 2024 second-rounder Adonai Mitchell alongside two coveted first-round picks to secure their sought-after defensive star. Despite the steep price, it appears Indianapolis was all the more certain that Gardner can get this team over the hump.

Gardner brings significant upside to the Colts as a potential shutdown cornerback who could anchor their secondary for years to come. However, it’s impossible to ignore the noticeable dip in his performance since his rookie season. His passer rating allowed has climbed for the third consecutive year, rising sharply from a sterling 62.7 in 2022 to an alarming 98.1 over the seven games played this season under head coach Aaron Glenn.

Additionally, Gardner’s missed tackle rate, which was already higher than the league average during his rookie campaign, has remained troublingly among the worst in the NFL across each of the following seasons. Still, context is critical here: the pass rush that once supported Gardner’s coverage efforts has significantly deteriorated over the same period. From 2022 through the firing of head coach Robert Saleh midway through the 2024 season, the Jets boasted the NFL’s second-best sack rate. However, since his departure, that sack rate has plummeted to 29th in the league. This dramatic drop in pass pressure inevitably makes life much tougher for any cornerback trying to maintain tight coverage, as increased time in the pocket gives quarterbacks more opportunities to exploit weaknesses.

Taking all this into account, this trade emerges as a smart, strategic win for both franchises. Indianapolis lands the cornerback they coveted as a foundational piece for their defense, while New York cashes in on an abundance of draft capital, positioning themselves to pursue their next franchise quarterback with multiple high-value picks. Ultimately, this deal reshapes both teams’ trajectories and will prove to be a franchise-altering moment in the seasons to come.