NFL World Reacts to Jets Shockingly Trading Sauce Gardner to Colts

The Jets are sending All-Pro corner Sauce Gardner to the Colts after extending him this summer.

The Jets shockingly decided to trade Sauce Gardner to the Colts on Tuesday. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The first blockbuster of the 2025 NFL trade deadline is here.

On Tuesday, the Jets stunningly decided to trade two-time first team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts in exchange for two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.

The #Jets are getting 2 first-rounders and WR AD Mitchell for Sauce Gardner. pic.twitter.com/96JXUNsMY5

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 4, 2025

After starting the season 1-7, the Jets were expected to be sellers at the deadline this year. Trading Gardner, a star cornerback and young building block on the team, was not expected—especially after they recently signed him to a four-year, $120 million extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

Now Gardner heads to a Colts team that has been one of the biggest surprises of the season, and will boost their chances at contending by bringing a top cornerback to the team.

After the surprising trade, here’s a look at some of the top reactions from across the NFL.

BREAKING NEWS: Sauce Gardner has been traded to the Indianapolis Colts..

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Q8MakdC6gu

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 4, 2025

WOW. A massive trade

The Colts land a premier corner and the Jets get a gigantic package in return. https://t.co/TXkH8OHXun

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 4, 2025

I said they were looking for a serviceable corner. But I didn’t say all this! Sheesh! https://t.co/wnUOkLzc2Q

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) November 4, 2025

Sauce Gardner being traded is one of the most shocking trades I can ever remember. https://t.co/C2Rb3YIyOR

— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) November 4, 2025

The #Jets just extended Sauce Gardner. They viewed him as a building block and cornerstone of franchise at time.

What a difference a few weeks make.

They’re trading him to #Colts

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 4, 2025

pic.twitter.com/afC4Bj1YNT

— Isaiah Rodgers Sr. (@rodgers_isaiah) November 4, 2025

I need to see if anything changed in the Gardner contract. The Colts might have a ridiculously good contract for the next five years.

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) November 4, 2025

The Colts have been looking for a corner for a few weeks. But this is more than just that—a BIG swing for a 7-2 Indy team.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) November 4, 2025

Per Sources...@Colts are trading for Sauce Gardner...let's GOOOOOO COLTS

— Dan Dakich (@dandakich) November 4, 2025

sauce gardner after waking up and going from the worst team in the nfl to a super bowl contender pic.twitter.com/uUYGDsCiSA

— wok (@dontsipwok) November 4, 2025

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