NFL Fans Say Jets Fleeced Colts with Sauce Gardner Trade After Landing 1st-Round Picks

The New York Jets shocked the NFL world Tuesday by announcing the trade of cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

New York and Indy struck the deal just hours before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, leading to no shortage of hot takes on social media.

Although Gardner is a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time First Team All-Pro, must of the reaction favored the Jets due to the significant draft capital they got in return for the 25-year-old defensive back:

On Oct. 26, the Jets won their first game of the season, beating the Cincinnati Bengals in a 39-38 thriller. That allowed them to enter the bye week on a high note and gave them extra time to evaluate their roster.

At 1-7, the Jets are clearly out of contention this season, and it could be multiple years before they are able to vie for a playoff spot.

Because of that, it made sense for them to sell off pieces ahead of the deadline, although trading one of their best young players in Gardner came as a shock.

Selected fourth overall by the Jets in the 2022 NFL draft, Gardner burst onto the scene as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was also a Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons.

Gardner led the NFL with 20 passes defended and had two interceptions as a rookie. While he didn't have a pick during his second season, he did break up 11 passes.

His play seemed to take a step back last season when he finished with just nine passes defended and one interception in 15 games, and he was not chosen for the Pro Bowl as a result.

In seven starts for the Jets this season, Gardner registered 20 tackles, six passes defended and no picks.

The Jets signed Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July, but just four months later, the Jets have already gotten out from under that high-dollar deal.

Two first-round picks is massive for a rebuilding team like the Jets, but Mitchell could prove to be an underrated part of the return.

A 23-year-old wideout from the University of Texas, Mitchell had 23 receptions for 312 yards as a rookie, and he has eight catches for 152 yards so far this season.

The fast and explosive receiver was seemingly having a breakout game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 4 with three catches for 96 yards, but he accidentally dropped the ball before crossing the goal line on what would have been a long touchdown, which seemingly led to him falling out of favor.

Since that game, Mitchell has just two catches for 15 yards, and there should be far more opportunities for him in New York.

The Jets have little to speak of at wide receiver outside of Garrett Wilson, meaning Mitchell could become a starter in short order.

As for the Colts, trading for Gardner is an all-in move that makes sense when you consider that they are 7-2 and atop the AFC.

However, parting with multiple first-rounders and a promising receiver is a risky move that could backfire in the long run if the Colts don't sustain their success.