Some roster moves change depth charts while others change the identity of a football team.
When the New York Jets traded Sauce Gardner to theIndianapolis Colts midway through the 2025 season, the team moved on from one of the NFL's premier defensive backs. A player who had become the face of the franchise's defense almost immediately after arriving in New York.
Now, as training camp begins, the Jets are still searching for what comes next.
Gardner was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors twice, made two Pro Bowls and landed on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. More importantly, he routinely eliminated one side of the field, allowing the Jets to build their defensive game plans around his ability to shadow
opposing receivers.
If the season opened today, Nahshon Wright and Brandon Stephens appear to be the favorites to start on the outside at cornerback on New York's defense. Second-round rookie D'Angelo Ponds projects as the nickel corner after arriving with a reputation as one of the better slot defenders in the draft.
Behind them, the competition remains wide open.
The Jets don't necessarily need another All-Pro. They do need dependable cornerback play. Last season's defense surrendered a league-high 36 touchdown passes while allowing opposing quarterbacks to post a 110.9 passer rating.
Unlike some position battles that are decided quickly, this one may take weeks to sort out at training camp.
Trading Gardner gave the Jets additional draft capital and helped reshape the roster for the future, but it also created one of the team's biggest unanswered questions entering 2026.
Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2026 NFL season.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets begin training camp still searching for Sauce Gardner's successor
