NFL Coach Says Sauce Gardner Trade Was 'No-Brainer' for Jets, 'They Had To'

Despite giving Sauce Gardner a contract extension less than four months ago, the New York Jets' decision to trade their star cornerback to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday was an easy one to make in the eyes of an opposing coach.

Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, the coach called the deal a "no-brainer" for the Jets and a move "they had to" make.

Given that the Colts sent first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to New York in exchange for Gardner, it's hard to argue with that assessment. The Jets are also getting wide receiver Adonai Mitchell back in the deal.

Gardner seemed like he was going to be a pillar for the Jets after signing a four-year, $120 million extension in July that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

The 25-year-old was an All-Pro first-team selection in each of his first two seasons. Even though Gardner hasn't been at the very top of the cornerback metrics since the start of 2024, he remains one of the best players in the NFL at his position.

Even as Gardner was doing that, the Jets weren't able to build a winning team around him. They are 20-39 since the start of 2022, including a 1-7 record through eight games this season.

Trading Gardner, as well as dealing Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys, gives the Jets a potential franchise-changing cache of draft picks to build up their roster. They have eight picks in the first two rounds of the next two drafts, including five first-rounders.

On top of that, New York's current spot in the 2026 draft is at No. 3 overall. If the club stays in that range, it might not have to trade away any of those extra picks to land a top-tier quarterback prospect.

B/R's NFL scouting department has the Jets taking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson in its updated mock draft released on Tuesday after the trade deadline passed.

The Jets have been a mess for years, but this season in particular looks like a bottoming-out moment for the franchise. First-year general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn did what they believe will put them in the best position to succeed long-term.

It came at a high price by giving up one of the best cornerbacks in the league who is only 25, but the potential reward makes it easier to stomach for a Jets franchise that desperately needs anything to hope for.