Breece Hall, Jermaine Johnson, More NFL Players React to Sauce, Quinnen Trades

The Indianapolis Colts stunned the NFL world on Tuesday, acquiring star cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets for a pair of first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 along with wideout AD Mitchell.

Hours later, the Jets pulled off another shocker when they shipped defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, 2027 first-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Gardner's former teammates and new teammates alike were stunned by the moves:

NFL pundits had plenty of thoughts as well:

Gardner, 25, doesn't post gaudy counting stats, with three interceptions and 46 passes defensed in his four-year career. And there's an argument to be made that he's regressed since being a first-team All-Pro selection and Pro Bowler in his first two seasons.

But he's still one of the better players at his position, and a change of scenery could bring out the best in him again. The Jets were a bit of a mess in recent years, while the Colts are 7-2 and clearly see themselves as serious contenders in an AFC that feels pretty wide open this year.

One thing to consider with Gardner is that the advanced metrics still look good:

Once Charvarius Ward is healthy, the Colts should have a formidable secondary. If Gardner can return to his 2022-23 levels, Indianapolis is going to be extremely difficult to beat through the air.

Regardless of how it turns out for either side—the Jets still need to get those first-rounders right for it to be a good trade in the Big Apple—it was certainly a stunner.

So was the Williams deal. The Cowboys desperately needed to upgrade their defense, one of the worst in football, and Williams is a game-changer from the interior. While he probably doesn't impact the game to the level that Micah Parsons does, he's a clear upgrade in Dallas.

And the Jets are tearing it all down and starting over. A wild day in New Jersey.