The New York Jets certainly might end up getting the better end of the trade that sent Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in the middle of last season. While Indy got a great cornerback, New York got multiple first-round picks and a wide receiver, Adonai Mitchell.
Mitchell was a bust for the Colts, but he showed decent potential once he arrived in New York. Maybe he just needed a change of scenery.
As for the long-term success of each team after the move, The Athletic's (subscription required) Saad Yousuf might have recently accidentally thrown some shade at the Jets, but Indianapolis avoided such disrespect. To be sure, Yousuf thought the Jets got good value for Gardner, but the problem lies with each organization, not the players involved in the deal.
Indianapolis Colts avoid the shade the New York Jets receive for the Sauce Gardner trade
Yousuf wrote, "Given how much help the Jets need all over the roster and the talent expected in the 2027 Draft, New York got solid value for a cornerback who likely would have been aging out by the time the team would be contending."
Ouch. As Yousuf previously points out in his column, Gardner is only 25 years old (he will turn 26 just before the beginning of the coming season), and that implies he should have many years left to play at a high level. What should be expected is that he is Pro Bowl-level for at least five more seasons.
Yousuf indicates that while the Jets might win the Sauce Gardner trade, New York still might not be good for another half-decade, at least. Of course, that is not a concern for an Indianapolis Colts fan. If the New York Jets suffer several more lost seasons, that's their problem.
What Indy fans will be concerned with is whether Gardner can stay healthier than he was after being dealt to head coach Shane Steichen's team in 2025. The cornerback could have played in eight games, but due to a calf issue, he missed half that amount. That was one more game than Gardner missed in the first three years of his career combined.
That means that the former First-Team All-Pro should get back to being healthy again in 2026 and beyond. He hadn't had injury problems before coming to the Colts, and that implies he won't in the future.
If Gardner gets back to his All-Pro level for many seasons, that would be enough to have Indianapolis likely win the trade for him. The hope, though, is that Gardner's team gets back to making the playoffs consistently. Ultimately, that is what truly matters.
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