In a stunning NFL development, the New York Jets have agreed to trade cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. In return, New York will receive two first-round draft picks along with wide receiver AD Mitchell, according to multiple reports.
The Jets now hold an extra first-round selection in both the 2026 and 2027 NFL Drafts, giving them additional flexibility as they look to rebuild their roster.
For the Colts, the move secures Gardner’s services for the next five and a half years under a deal valued at $131.5 million, minus what the Jets have already paid. Gardner will earn $625,000 for the remainder of 2025 and average $26.1 million annually over the following five seasons.
At just 25 years old, Gardner has already established himself as one of the league’s premier defensive players. Selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he earned All-Pro honors and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Currently, he leads the NFL with 20 passes defended and is the only cornerback since 1970 to earn first-team All-Pro recognition in each of his first two seasons.
Following confirmation of the trade, Gardner took to X (formerly Twitter) with a heartfelt message:
“New York, it’s been real.”
For the Jets, this move signals a full-scale rebuild. Sitting at 1-7, general manager Darren Mougey appears focused on gathering assets for a future franchise quarterback. The two first-round picks from the Colts were deemed more valuable to New York’s long-term outlook than retaining their top defensive star.
Meanwhile, AD Mitchell, who joins the Jets as part of the deal, has struggled to find his footing in Indianapolis. The rookie receiver has tallied 312 yards with no touchdowns and participated in only 24% of the Colts’ offensive snaps. His lone standout performance came against the Rams, when he notched 96 yards but also lost a fumble.
This trade follows another major roster shake-up for the Jets, who earlier sent defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round selection.
If the season ended today, the Jets would hold the 3rd overall pick, the 14th overall pick, and the first-round selection acquired from the Cowboys via Green Bay in the Micah Parsons trade — positioning them with significant draft capital for a franchise reset.
