Indianapolis Colts trade for New York Jets All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner

by · UPI

Nov. 4 (UPI) -- The Indianapolis Colts agreed to a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets, acquiring All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, a league source told UPI on Tuesday.

The Colts agreed to send a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets in the swap.

Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, will join a secondary that includes defensive backs Mekhi Blackmon, Kenny Moore, Jaylon Jones, Cam Bynum and Nick Cross.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft totaled 20 combined tackles and six passes defensed through seven starts this season. He logged 49 tackles, nine passes defensed, an interception and a sack over 15 starts in 2024.

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Pro Football Focus gave Gardner the No. 12 defensive rating among cornerbacks who were in for at least 50% of the maximum snaps played at the position this season. He ranked No. 17 in coverage among qualifying cornerbacks.

He rated No. 26 among cornerbacks in 2024, when he ranked No. 16 in coverage. Gardner was Pro Football Focus' top coverage cornerback in 2023 and 2022.

Gardner, 24, signed a four-year, $120 million contract with the Jets in July. He is under contract through 2030.

Mitchell, a second-round pick by the Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft, totaled nine catches for 152 yards through eight games this season. The 23-year-old wide receiver logged 312 yards on 23 catches over 17 appearances in 2024. He is signed through 2027.

The Colts (7-2) will face the Atlanta Falcons (3-5) at 9:30 a.m. EST Sunday in Berlin. The Jets (1-7) will host the Cleveland Browns (2-6) at 1 p.m. Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J.