The Indianapolis Colts made one of the biggest moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline, acquiring two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets in exchange for two first-round draft picks.
Per The Guardian, the deal marks a dramatic roster shift for New York, while Indianapolis signals a clear push toward postseason contention.
Gardner, selected fourth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, quickly became one of the league’s top defensive players. He earned All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons, a rare achievement for a young cornerback.
Just months earlier, the Jets signed him to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Shortly after news of the trade surfaced, Gardner posted a brief message on X:
“New York it’s been real 💚.”
The move arrives during a challenging year for the Jets, who currently sit at 1–7 and have the league’s longest active playoff drought, dating back to 2010. With the team now entering what appears to be a complete rebuild, the trade removes a central piece of a defensive identity built around Gardner’s coverage ability.
The deal was one of two major trades executed by Jets general manager Darren Mougey. New York also sent defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, according to league sources.
Williams is a former All-Pro himself, signaling that the Jets may be restructuring their roster from the ground up.
For the 7–2 Colts, Gardner’s arrival bolsters a secondary that already ranks among the league’s top defensive units. Indianapolis appears to be preparing for a deep postseason run, opting to secure established talent rather than future draft prospects.
Social media reaction arrived immediately—and loudly. Many Jets fans used humor to cope with the news. One user posted a clip of Hannah Montana stepping off a plane, expecting to be in New York, only to find a farm, captioning it with disbelief. Another fan wrote: “Congrats big dawg you’re free.”
Others expressed appreciation for Gardner’s professionalism during his time in New York:
“Go be GREAT man. Win a ton of games. Appreciate the way you handled yourself from Draft Day to now.”
Some reactions also drew comparisons to public narratives around Houston rapper Sauce Walker (not to be confused with Gardner), noting how both names often circulate heavily online.