Sauce Gardner Was 'Stunned' by Jets-Colts NFL Deadline Trade, Brother Says

Sauce Gardner wasn't expecting to be traded on Tuesday.

Gardner's brother and agent, Allante, revealed that the star cornerback was "stunned" after the New York Jets traded him to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

"I called Ahmad," Allante said, via Cimini. "He's in great spirits. I told him this is a business decision and he understands that. The Jets made a business decision. They couldn't turn it down and Ahmad deserves to be on a winning football team."

Sauce was in the midst of his fourth season in New York prior to the swap.

While the draft picks acquired in the deal will be valuable for a Jets squad building towards the future after opening the 2025 season with a 1-7 record, the choice to part ways with the 25-year-old on the trade market was still unexpected.

After all, New York handed Gardner a four-year extension worth $120.4 million in July.

The Jets initially selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft before the former Cincinnati standout immediately became a key piece of their secondary.

Gardner racked up a league-leading 20 passes defended in his first season, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition. He ended up receiving two Pro Bowl honors and two First Team All-Pro selections across his first two years in New York.

Gardner took a slight step back in 2024 and was still searching for some consistency to open his 2025 campaign, though.

This year, he recorded 20 tackles and six passes defended in seven games. He also allowed a 98.1 passer rating when targeted while giving up a career-worst 17.3 yards per completion, according to Pro Football Reference.

Now, Gardner will be joining a Colts squad with aspirations of contending in the AFC after compiling a 7-2 record through nine games.