The Indianapolis Colts likely shocked everyone, even the team's own fan base, at the 2025 trade deadline by not only making a move but also completing one that brought two-time First-Team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to Indy. The team had to give up a lot to acquire him, though.
Two future first-round draft picks are a lot to give up for any player, especially a non-quarterback. Maybe Gardner's former team, the New York Jets, thought they were getting lightning to strike twice. The Jets had traded Jamal Adams ahead of the 2020 season to the Seattle Seahawks, and the deal did not work out well for Seattle.
The difference between Gardner and a younger Adams is great, though. Adams was a freakish athlete who could rush quarterbacks well, but wasn't great in coverage. He needed to be as a safety. Gardner is a pure cornerback who won't chase down quarterbacks and doesn't need to. He simply needs to provide shutdown coverage.
Sauce Gardner as good as advertised in his first game for the Indianapolis Colts
In his first game with the Colts, Gardner didn't allow the Atlanta Falcons to get anything accomplished when they decided to target the new Indy corner. Gardner had six tackles without missing any, but more importantly, allowed just one completion in three targets, and for only 17 yards.
He also dropped a sure interception, but that sin can obviously be forgiven as he provided Indianapolis the kind of play that Jets fans became accustomed to. Gardner was also beaten on a two-point conversion by Falcons wide receiver Drake London, but London is a great player in his own right and didn't get the best of Gardner the rest of the game.
Moreover, Sauce Gardner was adjusting to a new defensive scheme and only had a few days of practice before playing in his first Colts game. As good as he was in Week 10, he should be even better moving forward. He is also under contract through 2029 and is going to help Indy win a lot of games.
He should also get some help later in the season. Fellow cornerback Charvarius Ward (concussion) can return from injured reserve as soon as Week 12, when Indy faces the Kansas City Chiefs after the Colts' bye week.
A unit that has been iffy for the Indianapolis Colts due to injuries could be a strength by the end of the season. The second half of the season sees Indy take on some better teams than in the first half of the year, but Indy should be ready. Sauce Gardner certainly will be.