Colts' Updated NFL Draft Picks, Depth Chart, Salary Cap After Sauce Gardner Jets Trade

Well that's a stunner.

The Indianapolis Colts have acquired star cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets for a pair of first-round picks and wideout AD Mitchell, bolstering for what they hope will be a major playoff run after a 7-2 start to the 2025 season.

Gardner, a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro, should instantly upgrade Indy's pass defense. Here's a look at how the depth chart currently looks on that side of the ball after the deal:

• LDE: Kwity Paye; Tyquan Lewis; JT Tuimoloau
• NT: Grover Stewart; Neville Gallimore
• DT: DeForest Buckner; Adetomiwa Adebawore
• RDE: Laiatu Latu; Samson Ebukam
• WLB: Germaine Pratt; Austin Ajiake
• MLB: Zaire Franklin; Buddy Johnson
• LCB: Sauce Gardner; Mekhi Blackmon; Cameron Mitchell
• SS: Nick Cross; Reuben Lowery III
• FS: Cam Bynum; Rodney Thomas II
• RCB: Jaylon Jones; Johnathan Edwards
• NB: Kenny Moore II; Chris Lammons
• Notable injured reserve: CB Charvarius Ward

The deal will leave the Colts fairly light on draft picks in 2026, with just their own picks in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds. They currently have all of their own 2027 picks except the first-rounder.

Here's how the Gardner contract will impact Indy's cap sheet going forward:

It's fairly rare that such a high-profile player is trade midseason, especially one in his prime like Gardner. For the Colts, it's an indication that they are not only all-in for this year, but also believe in their core group for the next several seasons. The 25-year-old is a shutdown corner at his best, and should be for years to come.

As for the Jets, the price was likely too high to pass on. New York is clearly in a full rebuild now, and those added first-rounders should help bolster those efforts, though they still need to get those selections right. A trade that made ample sense for both sides, in other words.