The Indianapolis Colts have acquired two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets in a major trade made shortly before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Indianapolis is sending two future first-round picks (2026 and 2027) and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to New York in exchange for Gardner, who became the league’s highest-paid cornerback after signing a four-year, $120.4 million extension with the Jets this past offseason.

The move signals that the Colts, currently 7-2 and tied for the best record in the AFC, are going all-in as they chase their first Super Bowl title since the 2006 season. Gardner, 25, was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft and won Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the NFL with 20 passes defended. He is the only cornerback since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to earn first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons.

Gardner missed Week 8 due to a concussion sustained in the Jets’ win over the Bengals, but after a bye week, he is progressing through the league’s protocol. The Colts are hopeful he may be available for Sunday’s International Series matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin.

For the Jets, the trade marks a shift toward rebuilding. Sitting at 1-7 and last in the AFC East, New York chose to capitalize on Gardner’s value to accumulate future assets. The Jets continued the teardown shortly afterward by sending three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. With the move, New York now holds three first-round selections in the 2027 NFL Draft.

The Colts had been actively exploring the market for a high-impact defender in recent weeks, and Gardner now joins a roster already positioned for a deep postseason run. The franchise’s belief is that this season presents a legitimate championship opportunity.