Sauce Gardner traded to Colts: What does the deal mean?

The Indianapolis Colts have acquired star cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets in a blockbuster trade. In return for Gardner, the Colts sent two first-round draft picks and young wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets. This move is a significant shift for Colts general manager Chris Ballard, who has historically been a draft-and-develop executive, but it signals a win-now mentality as the team currently leads the AFC at 7-2. Gardner, a two-time first-team All-Pro, has been a transformative player for the Jets since being drafted fourth overall in 2022. He immediately elevated their defense, helping them climb from last in points allowed per drive to among the league's best. Despite some metrics suggesting a slight decline in his performance over the past season and a half, coupled with a less effective pass rush in front of him, Gardner still boasts impressive coverage statistics, with a high rate of throws to his man coming on tight windows. The Colts, who have struggled with consistency at cornerback, see Gardner as a major upgrade who will provide defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo with greater schematic flexibility. For the Colts, the trade represents an aggressive move to bolster a strong offense and potentially secure a Super Bowl contention window, especially with quarterback Daniel Jones having an unexpectedly successful season. They are acquiring a 24-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback under contract through 2030, providing both immediate impact and long-term value. The team is essentially betting on the current version of Jones and the potential of Gardner to lead them to deep playoff runs. The Jets, on the other hand, are... download the app to read more