Jets Trade Sauce Gardner to Colts for Two First-Round picks and AD Mitchell
INDIANAPOLIS/NEW YORK – november 4,2025 – In a stunning move hours before the NFL’s in-season trade deadline,the New York Jets have traded cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver AD Mitchell and two first-round draft picks,a league source confirmed.
Gardner, 25, was the Jets’ first-round selection in 2022 and recently signed a record-breaking contract with the team this summer.Minutes before news of the trade surfaced, gardner posted on X, “New York it’s been real.”
The trade is a significant shift in direction for the Jets, who had previously viewed Gardner as a cornerstone player under thier new regime. despite a 1-7 start to the season, there had been no prior indication the Jets were considering trading the two-time first-team All-Pro. Jets general Manager Darren Mougey ultimately determined the value of two additional first-round picks outweighed retaining Gardner.
“This is an absolute stunner,” said Jets writer Zack Rosenblatt.”Gardner hasn’t put up the dominant stats you’d want for a star cornerback (zero interceptions this season, one in 2024), but those stats don’t tell the whole story. Gardner was averaging 20.9 snaps per reception this season - the best mark of all qualifying corners in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, and 9.5 snaps per target ranked 11th. that means Gardner was rarely getting targeted – and when he was,he rarely let up any receptions.”
The Colts, currently 7-2 and leading the AFC standings, are taking a different approach to the trade deadline. Prior to acquiring Gardner,colts GM Chris Ballard had made only one in-season trade in his first eight years – a 2022 deal involving running back Nyheim hines.
“After an 8-9 finish in 2024, the Colts are off to a 7-2 start in 2025 and are currently atop the AFC standings,” noted Colts writer James Boyd. “Indianapolis was already poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and win its first AFC South title since 2014. Yet, the Colts wouldn’t part ways with two first-round picks for a cup of coffee in the postseason. This move solidifies their belief that they can go on a Super Bowl run, and the idea that they’re perhaps one player away from maximizing a campaign that has largely shocked the NFL.”
