The NFL trade deadline always seems to have a blockbuster occur near the end of the deadline. And this year, that trade involves the New York Jets. It’s now official that the NY Jets have traded cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. The Jets will receiver two first-round picks, one in 2026, and the other in 2027. They also get wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in the exchange.
This trade comes just months after the Jets gave Gardner a four-year, $120.4 million extension in the offseason.
“New York it’s been real,” wrote Gardner on X (formerly Twitter).
New York it's been real💚
— SAUCE GARDNER (@iamSauceGardner) November 4, 2025
NY Jets: Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis
Sauce Gardner was drafted by the NY Jets No. 4 overall in the 2022 NFL draft from the Cincinnati Bearcats. With the Jets, Gardner was a two-time first pro bowler and team All-Pro selection. He’s the only player since the AFL-NFL merger to receive those All-Pro selections in his first two seasons. Gardner also won the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season in the league.
The Cincinnati product is lauded as one of the best coverage cornerbacks in the league. Yet despite the hot start out of the gates, Gardner’s production has started to plateau. While still great, fans have not seen the elite performances that came with his first two seasons.
Last season, Gardner had the fourth-highest amount of penalties among defensive backs. His missed tackle rate (23.1) was ninth-worst among cornerbacks with at least 200 snaps. He also had the third-highest yards per reception allowed (15.6) among other qualifying defensive backs.
Coming with the slight lapse in production, are a myriad of issues (both on-field and off the field) that he hasn’t proven he can respond adequately from. While there’s still greatness in Gardner, there’s a possibility he wasn’t the fit in Aaron Glenn’s defense.
Who is Adonai Mitchell?
Coming along with two first-round picks is wide receiver Adonai (AD) Mitchell. Mitchell was selected No. 52 overall in the 2024 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He spent time at Georgia and Texas in college, breaking out in 2023 with a 845-yard season with 11 touchdowns.
Unfortunately for Mitchell, a lot of his time with the Colts has been plagued with miscues. The first was a 2024 play where he throw a pass that was intercepted by the Denver Broncos for a touchdown.
AD MITCHELL making a play for his hometown team! pic.twitter.com/QUD6xoVmoy
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) December 16, 2024
The second miscue is more recent, and involves a mistake Jets fans saw from Malachi Corley not long ago.
T̶O̶U̶C̶H̶D̶O̶W̶N̶ TOUCHBACK 🤯
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) September 28, 2025
AD Mitchell fumbled across the goal line.
🎥 @NFL pic.twitter.com/IzQtsgtTQz
While those miscues are fun for NFL fans to point and laugh at (perhaps more-so now that he’s a Jet), what it doesn’t illustrate is a player who is a good route-runner, and is feisty at the catch-point. Having Mitchell added into the trade was a smart decision by the Jets.
Was Trading Sauce Gardner the Right Move?
Whether or not trading Gardner was the right move for the NY Jets remains to be seen. There is some confusion as to why the deal was done after giving Gardner an extension in July. However, the answer could be as plainly put as he may not have been an overall team fit under new head coach Aaron Glenn.
For now, it’s impossible to give a grade on the trade until the Jets make their selections with their first round picks. And, time has to be given to AD Mitchell to see if he can improve his ability as a receiver. Yet one thing is clear, this move certainly surprised Jets fans.
