By Dianna Russini, James Boyd, Zack Rosenblatt and Dane Brugler

The Indianapolis Colts are acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner in a trade with the New York Jets, a league source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday, hours before the in-season trade deadline.

Indianapolis will send two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell to New York in exchange for Gardner, who is a two-time first-team All-Pro.

BREAKING: The Colts are acquiring Jets corner Sauce Gardner, per source. pic.twitter.com/aAByLLq5vc

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) November 4, 2025

 

Gardner, 25, was a first-round selection by the Jets in 2022. Minutes before news of the trade dropped, Gardner wrote in a post on X, “New York it’s been real.”

“Having the opportunity to acquire a talented player like Sauce Gardner was one we did not want to pass on,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a statement. “He was a player that we scouted heavily coming out of college and there’s a reason he was the fourth overall pick. Sauce is a proven cornerback. His skill and competitive nature will elevate everyone’s play on the defensive unit. We’re thrilled he’s a Colt. On the same note, AD Mitchell is a great person and a great player. We believe he will have success in New York, and we wish him the best as he enters the next chapter of his career.”

Jets make shocking move after record deal

This is an absolute stunner. The Jets signed Gardner to a record-breaking deal this summer and made it clear, with their actions and their words, that they viewed him as a cornerstone player as a new regime took over. There weren’t any rumblings or even an inkling that the Jets had soured on him or were shopping him around — but ultimately general manager Darren Mougey decided that two additional first-round picks from the Colts brought more value to the team than an All-Pro caliber cornerback.

This trade is a sign that the Jets are deciding to tear it down amid a 1-7 start to the season and start to plan for the future — a future without arguably their best player.

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, while 9.5 snaps per target ranked 11th. That means Gardner was rarely getting targeted, and when he was, he rarely let up any receptions. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets writer

Colts take different approach to trade deadline

The Colts’ acquisition of Gardner is in stark contrast to GM Chris Ballard’s typically conservative approach to the in-season trade deadline. Before landing Gardner, Ballard had only made one in-season trade through the first eight years of his tenure, and that lone deal was when running back Nyheim Hines requested to be dealt in 2022. Year 9, however, appears to be the season that Ballard is going all in.

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. 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. — James Boyd, Colts writer

Who will the Jets lean on moving forward?

The Jets drafted Azareye’h Thomas in the third round in April, and the Jets coaching staff has been high on his potential. Now he’ll immediately step into a full-time role in a completely revamped secondary. The other starting corner is Brandon Stephens, who signed as a free agent in the offseason. The Jets recently traded away Michael Carter and replaced him with Jarvis Brownlee (acquired in a deal with the Tennessee Titans) at nickel, and D.J. Reed left for the Detroit Lions in the offseason.

Stephens, Thomas and Brownlee will presumably be the Jets’ cornerbacks in 2026, too, as the team looks to improve the roster at other positions — a task that should be made easier with an additional first-round pick in 2026. — Rosenblatt

How Gardner fits in Indy

Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s scheme is balanced, and he plays a little bit of everything, including man-to-man. Through nine weeks, the Colts have played man at the 13th-highest rate in the league. Charvarius Ward was the perfect do-it-all corner for his scheme, but he’s been out due to a concussion. Even when Ward was playing, the Colts needed a corner opposite of him for the times Anarumo wants to get more aggressive with pressure and press receivers. Gardner also has a history of traveling to cover the other team’s best receivers. Ward also travels, which is uncommon for corners. The Colts have the flexibility to move both players wherever they want.

Gardner has mostly played in man-heavy schemes that allow him to play press coverage. Right now, however, his name is currently bigger than his play. He’s taken chances with aggressive jams and can miss at times and concede big plays. Of course, he also can be completely suffocating. Maybe a change of environment is exactly what he needs. Going to a more varied scheme where he can mix up how he plays could be good for him; or he might have some trouble trying to execute different coverages. Anarumo won’t ask him to play too far outside of himself, but Gardner will be asked to do more than he has in the past. Regardless, Gardner gives the Colts a far better option than they had before, and when Ward returns, they’ll have one of the better corner duos in the league. — Ted Nguyen

Why did the Colts move on from Mitchell?

The Colts’ decision to move on from Mitchell isn’t completely shocking when considering how underwhelming his rookie campaign was last year. The 2024 second-round pick totaled 23 catches for 312 yards but managed just a 41.8 catch percentage. Mitchell regressed this year because of repeated mental mistakes that ultimately forced him out of the rotation. His biggest blunder came in a Week 4 road loss to the Rams, in which Mitchell inexcusably lost the ball on what should have been a 76-yard TD reception.

Instead of running through the end zone, as Colts coach Shane Steichen has repeatedly implored his team to do after Jonathan Taylor’s fumble gaffe on a potential touchdown last year in Denver, Mitchell showboated near the goal line, fumbling the ball through the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback. That play loomed large in Indianapolis’ 7-point loss.

After putting Mitchell in the doghouse, Indianapolis’ offense didn’t miss a beat. The Colts are the only team in the NFL with three 500-yard pass catchers this season: wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, and Warren. Pittman has already tied his career high in touchdowns with six in nine games. What’s more, Indianapolis is averaging league highs of 32.2 points per game and 0.53 points per play. — Boyd 

Mitchell’s athleticism brings Jets offensive upside

The Jets’ getting wide receiver Mitchell in the deal is not insignificant either. Mitchell had fallen out of favor in Indianapolis a bit, but his potential is intriguing as a 2024 second-round pick with a combination of size (6-2, 205) and athleticism. After picking up John Metchie III, who came from the Philadelphia Eagles in the Carter trade, the Jets have now added two young wide receivers to a room that was arguably the weakest on the roster.

Mitchell should step in right away as a starter alongside Wilson, as the rest of the room — Tyler Johnson, rookie Arian Smith, Allen Lazard, Isaiah Williams — doesn’t consist of any players who should be locked into roles. Mitchell only had 312 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie and has only played 24 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps this year, but did have 96 yards against the Rams earlier this season. — Rosenblatt 

How does this trade shake up the 2026 draft?

The 2026 quarterback draft class is somewhat unsettled at the top, but there are several intriguing options. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is a high-IQ passer in the Jared Goff mold who has the Hoosiers in the national championship hunt. Alabama’s Ty Simpson doesn’t have as robust a starting resume, but his college tape shows a future NFL starter.

Oregon’s Dante Moore and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers are extremely talented but could use more time at the college level. All four are underclassmen.

The Jets will be in the mix for the No. 1 pick, but the New Orleans Saints, Titans, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins and others are right there. The Browns most likely would stay at No. 1, should they land there, and draft a quarterback. If the Titans end up with the No. 1 pick for the second straight year, however, that selection will go to the highest bidder. And the Jets just strengthened their prospective chances of becoming that bidder.

The Jets will be hoping to find their quarterback in April’s draft — the sooner, the better. However, with multiple 2027 NFL Draft first-rounders, New York can pass on a quarterback in ‘26 if the “right” guy isn’t there. It is cliché to say “next year’s quarterback class will be better,” but that is how many scouts feel with Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Texas’ Arch Manning and others likely in that class.

Regardless, the Jets now have the ammunition to be major players as they search for their future QB. — Dane Brugler, NFL Draft analyst