Sauce Gardner 'Was Running in Circles in the House' After Trade to Colts from Jets

It's safe to say Sauce Gardner is excited to be part of the AFC playoff race after he was traded from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts.

"I didn't even have time to process it all the way," he told reporters Thursday. "I just knew I was coming into a great situation. So I was running in circles in the house. Because the first thing I'm thinking is, 'I'm about to be with my boy, Alec.' They're winning right now. I know what I can add. I was happy."

Gardner was talking about wide receiver and former Cincinnati Bearcats teammate Alec Pierce, as they will be reunited again at the NFL level.

His excitement is not surprising considering the Jets are 1-7 on the season and have never made the playoffs since they selected him with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2022 NFL draft. In fact, they have never even finished with a better record than 7-10 despite having one of the best cornerbacks in the league.

The 7-2 Colts are in a much different position and are tied with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos for the best record in the AFC. If they continue to play well down the stretch of the season, they will have the opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.

Gardner gives them a better chance to do just that, as he addresses an area of need in the secondary as an elite cornerback with two First-Team All-Pro selections, two Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year on his resume at just 25 years old.

Indianapolis paid quite the price by giving up 2026 and 2027 first-round picks, as well as wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, but it was a signal the front office is all in on competing this year and next with quarterback Daniel Jones under center.

The best way to do that is by surrounding Jones with excellent players to elevate the entire roster, and Gardner certainly fits the bill as a shutdown cornerback.

And his comments suggest he is ready to compete for a playoff spot for the first time in his career.