Jets Shock NFL wiht Trade of Star Cornerback Sauce Gardner to Colts
FLORHAM PARK, N.J.- In a stunning move that reverberated through the NFL, the New York Jets have traded star cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets received wide receiver Alec Pierce and a 2025 second-round draft pick in the deal, sources confirmed today.
The trade marks a dramatic shift for the Jets’ secondary, just two years after selecting Gardner with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. While Gardner quickly established himself as one of the league’s premier cover corners, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and consecutive First-Team All-Pro selections in 2022 and 2023, his performance dipped in the 2024 season. The Jets, despite this, had recently extended Gardner’s contract, making the trade all the more unexpected. This move signals a potential rebuild for the Jets’ defense and a clear effort to bolster their receiving corps.
Gardner appeared in seven games this season before being sidelined with a concussion.Throughout his career, he recorded only three interceptions. The Colts, meanwhile, are acquiring a player who, despite a recent downturn, possesses elite potential and will immediately become a cornerstone of their defense.
Indianapolis also sent a 2024 sixth-round pick to New York to complete the trade. The Jets will now rely on Brandon Stephens and rookie Azareye’h Thomas as their starting cornerbacks.
The Colts selected wide receiver Alec Pierce in the second round of the 2024 draft. pierce has nine receptions for 152 yards this season and is expected to see increased playing time with the Jets, addressing a critical need at the receiver position.
