In a stunning move ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the New York Jets have traded star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. The deal, confirmed by multiple sources including @RapSheet, sends Gardner to the Colts in exchange for two first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and wide receiver AD Mitchell. The trade was finalized just hours before the 4 p.m. deadline, shocking fans and analysts alike.
Sauce Gardner, known for his lockdown coverage and dynamic playmaking, was drafted fourth overall by the Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft. He quickly became a cornerstone of their defense, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections in 2022 and 2023. Gardner, who stands 6’3″ and weighs 190 lbs, has played 55 career games with the Jets, starting seven this season before missing a game due to a concussion. Despite his stellar reputation, Gardner has only three career interceptions and 19 interception return yards—a statistical quirk for a player of his caliber.
The timing of the trade is particularly surprising given that Gardner just signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July 2025, signaling the Jets’ intention to build around him under new head coach Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey. However, with the team struggling (1-7 record), the front office decided to pivot, acquiring future draft capital and a young receiver. The move leaves the Jets with Brandon Stephens and rookie Azareye’h Thomas as their starting cornerbacks, while AD Mitchell—selected in the second round of the 2024 draft—brings nine receptions for 152 yards to a Jets receiving corps in need of depth.
Gardner’s departure marks the end of a short but impactful era in New York. His performance and presence made him a fan favorite, and his trade is already one of the most talked-about moves of the 2025 NFL season. Gardner himself acknowledged the transition on social media, posting “New York it’s been real” on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after news of the deal broke.
For the Colts, acquiring Gardner adds a proven All-Pro to their secondary as they push for playoff contention. For the Jets, the trade represents a strategic reset, focusing on future assets as they rebuild. As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how both teams—and Sauce Gardner himself—adjust to this dramatic shift in the NFL landscape.