Jets trade star cornerback Sauce Gardner to Colts: source

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Nov 4, 2025

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — The Jets were expected to be active during Tuesday’s trade deadline.

But Gang Green shockingly traded one of its franchise players.

The Jets are sending cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, according to a source. NFL Network was the first to report the trade.

Briefly before the trade was reported, Gardner posted on X, “New York, it’s been real.”

Gardner, 25, was drafted fourth overall in the 2022 NFL draft and has been one of the faces of the Jets organization for the past four seasons.

The Jets trading the two-time All-Pro is stunning, as they signed him to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July ahead of training camp. The deal made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, with an average annual value of $30.1 million.

Ever since he was drafted by the Jets, Gardner has arguably been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. He won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and is also the only cornerback since 1970 to be selected as a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons.

But apparently, the first two first-round picks were too much for the Jets to pass up, considering their record.

In seven games this season (missed Week 8 due to a concussion), Gardner registered 20 tackles and six pass breakups.

The Jets began the season 0-7 before securing their first win against the Bengals on Oct. 26, before their bye. Now Gardner will join a Colts team that is tied for the best record in the AFC at 7-2.

As for the Jets, they are almost certainly on track to miss the playoffs for the 15th consecutive season, which is the longest drought in North American sports. They also haven’t finished with a winning record since 2015 (10-6).

Gang Green will likely move forward with rookie Azareye’h Thomas and Brandon Stephens as its starting cornerbacks. Thomas started against the Bengals in Week 8 after Gardner’s concussion. He finished with six tackles, but Joe Flacco completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins with Thomas in coverage.

The Jets now have four first-round picks in the next two years. They will almost certainly be in the market for a new quarterback in 2026, and now they have the ammunition to move up the draft board if needed.

The receiver position remains a significant need for the Jets, and they also add a young player with potential in Mitchell. He was selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft out of Texas. He had nine receptions for 152 yards this year for the Colts.

Mitchell is mainly remembered for his third-quarter mistake against the Rams in Week 4 this season. He dropped the ball before crossing the goal line in what would have been a 76-yard touchdown reception. The Rams defeated the Colts, 27-20.

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