Jaguars Pursued Quinnen Williams; Sauce Gardner Deal Accelerated Jets’ Willingness To Move On
Mason Graham-to-Jacksonville was a mock-draft staple for a while, but the Jaguars moved in a different direction by trading up for Travis Hunter. Their defensive tackle need went on the back-burner, but we heard before the deadline the team had circled back to it.
The Cowboys completed the trade deadline’s second-biggest deal by sending a 2026 second-round pick, a conditional 2027 first-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Quinnen Williams. This blockbuster, however, came after the Jaguars made what veteran insider Jordan Schultz describes as a “strong push” for the disgruntled Jet. In the end, the Cowboys made the better offer, dangling one of their four first-round picks from 2026-27 to seal the deal.
Williams came up in Cowboys-Jets Micah Parsons talks, and Dallas circled back to its target — as an enduring goal to repair its run defense now involves a second megadeal. Several teams pursued Williams, Schultz adds, and the Jets determined the offer of first- and second-rounders plus Smith was enough to move on from a player who wanted out.
A big market checks out for a player of Williams’ caliber, and we heard late last month the Jets were listening on their longtime front-seven centerpiece. The three-time Pro Bowler denied his relationship with Aaron Glenn was broken, as a Tuesday report noted the D-tackle’s one-on-one meeting with his new HC launched his quest to be traded.
While Williams confirmed he was frustrated with the Jets’ losing ways, he said (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) respects Glenn’s approach this year. Perhaps being diplomatic now that a trade has been completed, Williams will now see his reported pursuit of a contract rework fall in the Cowboys’ hands. His four-year, $96MM deal — which has just $5MM in guarantees left beyond 2025 — runs through 2027.
Although the Jets were not intent on trading Williams and Sauce Gardner, they decided on the latter move after the Colts bet big on the cornerback. Indianapolis sending New York two first-round picks and wideout Adonai Mitchell for Gardner made the Jets’ decision to moving Williams earlier, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.
New York made the deal with Indianapolis barely an hour before the Williams swap. Prior to that, the Colts pursued Alontae Taylor in what would have been a much lower-profile trade. It would have been interesting to see if the Jets would have followed through on the Williams trade had Indy not stepped up on Gardner. The Jets will have plenty of work to do on defense, having gutted a unit that ranked in the top five in yards allowed from 2022-24. Though, Glenn’s first year has produced a 20th-place ranking in total defense through eight games.
The Jaguars are among the NFL’s best run defenses, ranking third in that area. Williams, Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-ranked interior D-lineman in run stoppage, would have provided the fringe contender a significant boost in this department. The Jags have 2024 free agency addition Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton in place as starting DTs, while Austin Johnson, former second-round pick Maason Smith and Khalen Saunders are in place behind them.
Armstead leads the Jags with 3.5 sacks, though he is not quite on Williams’ level as a 32-year-old defender. Williams made the past three Pro Bowls and notched 23.5 sacks in that span. However, he only posted one sack and three QB hits this season. The Jags also have not seen any of their DTs besides Armstead record a sack this season. They will attempt to keep getting by as is, though Armstead’s age and the Williams interest points to the franchise making moves to bolster this area in 2026.
49ers, Bears, Steelers To Meet With CB Asante Samuel Jr.
Asante Samuel Jr.‘s schedule is starting to look like a draft prospect’s itinerary of “30” visits. After the former Chargers cornerback received clearance to return from a troublesome injury, three more teams have entered the fray.
Following a report indicating the Packers, Panthers and Vikings had lined up visits, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the free agent corner is set to meet with the 49ers, Bears and Steelers as well. While the Broncos not being in this mix will keep the Mountain Time Zone out of the mix, Samuel will otherwise — should he take all the meetings — make a cross-country trek over the next week.
After today’s Panthers visit, Samuel will meet with the Packers on Thursday and the Vikings on Friday. The 49ers, Bears and Steelers meetings will go off, respectively, Monday through Wednesday of next week. This jampacked schedule will give a host of teams the opportunity evaluate a player who spent his four-year Chargers run as a regular starter.
Cleared after spinal fusion surgery, Samuel will have met with a fourth of the league this year if he takes all these meetings. He met with the Saints and Cardinals during the spring and was later connected to the Dolphins’ months-long CB search. This will certainly provide Samuel quality intel on a chunk of the league’s facilities and schemes, something that could be relevant for a 2026 free agency foray, while the upcoming meetings should determine which team lands a young starter-level cover man following the trade deadline.
The 49ers have used Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout as their primary starters this season. Pro Football Focus has rated Stout as the league’s second-worst CB regular — ahead of only the since-retired Xavien Howard. The 49ers have flexibility here, as both Lenoir and Green have slot experience. Lenoir has operated in a hybrid capacity in multiple seasons, giving San Francisco options if a Samuel signing comes to pass. Samuel has primarily been a boundary corner as a pro.
Pittsburgh has transitioned Jalen Ramsey to safety, following their 2023 move with Patrick Peterson. The Steelers have also seen Darius Slay‘s age-34 season produce some bumps. PFF grades Pittsburgh perimeter corners Slay and Joey Porter Jr. 68th and 71st among corners, respectively. The team also has Brandin Echols, who has logged nearly half of his snaps in the slot this season.
Battling uphill at corner due to Jaylon Johnson‘s early-season injury, the Bears rank 25th in pass defense. Kyler Gordon also missed a chunk of time earlier this season, but the high-paid slot patrolman is back. PFF ranks Chicago fill-in options Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright outside the top 100 among CBs this season.
Prior to knowledge about Samuel’s surgery — which took place in April — PFR ranked him 32nd on our top 50 free agent list. Samuel, 26, profiled as a younger alternative to the deep late-20s crop at the position this year. But the surgery tabled interest, which has now come flooding back following the report of his clearance. This could go down as a lost season for Samuel, but he could potentially avoid the “prove it” FA tier in 2026 by catching on with a member of his suitor sextet and making notable contributions to close this season.
Bills Showed Interest In Logan Wilson, CBs
With questions at wide receiver and at multiple levels of their defense, expectations were that the 6-2 Bills would make at least one move ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. A report shortly before the deadline linked Commanders receiver Deebo Samuel and pass rusher Von Miller (an ex-Bill) to Buffalo, but nothing materialized for general manager Brandon Beane.
When discussing his unproductive deadline on Wednesday, Beane told reporters (including Sal Maiorana of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle): “Believe me, I went home as mad as any other fan. I wanted to do things. I’m always wanting to do things to make this team better. It’s not a store where you can just go in and say, ‘Hey, I’ll pay $20 and take this player.’ It takes two to be able to do it. We’re competitive, we’re always trying, not just on the trade deadline. We’re always looking.”
Beane added that the Bills, who rank toward the bottom of the NFL in cap space, couldn’t “take a $15 million contract (in a trade) with where we’re at with the cap.” With a lack of spending room, Beane admitted he couldn’t go “fishing in the deep end of the pond, so to speak.”
Despite a suboptimal cap situation, Beane expressed interest in linebacker Logan Wilson and unnamed cornerbacks leading up to the deadline, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
A Wilson trade would have reunited him with Bills quarterback Josh Allen, a former Wyoming teammate, but the Bengals ended up trading him to the Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick. Dallas, which had far more cap space than Buffalo entering the deadline, agreed to take on Wilson’s remaining salary of $2.68MM for this season. The Bills may not have been in position to do that.
With Wilson in Dallas, Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Shaq Thompson, and Dorian Williams will remain Buffalo’s top linebacker options for the rest of the season. The team will also continue with the same group of corners after it didn’t bring in anyone new on deadline day.
Rookie first-round pick Maxwell Hairston, who missed the Bills’ first six games with a knee injury, has provided a boost to Buffalo’s secondary since he debuted in Week 8. The 22-year-old speedster hauled in his first career interception in a win over the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs last Sunday. Hairston, who has shared playing time with Tre’Davious White, will continue to handle a key role opposite No. 1 cornerback Christian Benford. Nickel corner Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis, and Ja’Marcus Ingram comprise the rest of the Bills’ options on the active roster.
While Beane isn’t thrilled with the way the deadline played out for the Bills, most of the AFC’s other top contenders also had quiet days. The 7-2 Colts pulling in Gardner and the 5-3 Jaguars acquiring receiver Jakobi Meyers (a rumored Bills target) were the only needle-moving pickups in the conference on Tuesday. The 7-2 Patriots, who lead the Bills in the AFC East, didn’t make any additions. Neither did the Broncos, Chiefs, or Texans. The Chargers swung a deal for Trevor Penning to help a depleted offensive line, while the Steelers (safety Kyle Dugger) and Ravens (OLB Dre’Mont Jones) made their moves before deadline day.
Texans Rule Out C.J. Stroud For Week 10
Suffering a concussion during the Texans’ Week 9 loss to the Broncos, C.J. Stroud will not make an immediate return. DeMeco Ryans confirmed (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) his quarterback will miss Week 10.
Ryans ruling Stroud out at the start of his team’s practice week is certainly notable, as concussion protocol steps are in place to make a potential return possible. But the NFL has beefed up its standards for returning from head injuries. The Jaguars will face Davis Mills on Sunday.
A Kris Abrams-Draine hit on Stroud, initially ruled a penalty before the flag was picked up, led to the third-year quarterback’s concussion. The Texans dropped an 18-15 result, with neither quarterback able to punch in a touchdown against Denver’s formidable defense. Mills struggled particularly on third downs, with the Texans just 3-for-17 in that area. They missed on 14 of their final 15 third-down tries, as Mills had not been called upon to make a start for a while in Houston.
The Texans turned to then-backup Case Keenum during a two-game Stroud injury absence — due to a concussion — but saw the veteran passer sidelined throughout the 2024 season because of injury. Stroud, though, started all 17 games last season and took the field in both Houston postseason contests. Keenum joined the Bears in free agency this offseason, leaving Mills as the solo Texans backup. The team extended the former third-round pick in September.
During the Deshaun Watson healthy-scratch season, Mills was the Texans’ primary starter. That remained the case after the team dealt Watson to Cleveland for a historic bounty in 2022. Mills has made 26 career starts, going 5-19-1 (albeit with lower-end rosters in those years). He will receive at least one more this season, thanks to Stroud’s second documented concussion as a pro.
Mills was 17 of 30 for 156 yards against the Broncos, averaging just 4.6 per pass. Extension-eligible in January 2026, Stroud has seen his stock dip — as O-line and wide receiver issues have cropped up during the past two seasons — since his Offensive Rookie of the Year season. But Mills’ insufficient Week 9 relief effort certainly hindered Houston’s effort in a winnable game. At 3-5, the Texans suddenly need their former starter to come up with a win over the Jags. Stroud will move through the protocol this week, but his next chance to play will come against the Titans in Week 11. Houston then has a short-week matchup against Buffalo.
Colts Pursued Saints CB Alontae Taylor
The Colts entered Tuesday determined to address an injury-riddled cornerback group before the trade deadline, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. General manager Chris Ballard succeeded in pulling off a pre-deadline stunner, acquiring star corner Sauce Gardner from the Jets for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
The Jets unexpectedly parted with Gardner just a handful of months after inking him to a four-year, $120.1MM extension in July. Had the Jets gone forward with Gardner as a member of their core, the Colts may have had a far less splashy contingency plan in Saints corner Alontae Taylor. The Colts had interest in Taylor, per Fowler, who’s of the belief the 26-year-old could have wound up in Indianapolis had it failed to reel in Gardner.
Taylor drew interest from multiple clubs leading up to the deadline, but New Orleans didn’t find an offer to its liking. One team in the market for help at corner told Fowler the Saints wanted an early Day 3 pick for Taylor, a pending free agent.
A report last week indicated the Saints were seeking a Day 2 pick for Taylor. They may have dropped their price in hopes of finding a taker. Regardless, no one bit, leaving Taylor to finish 2025 with the Saints before a potential trip to the open market.
With Gardner now in the fold, the plan is for him and Charvarius Ward to eventually comprise the Colts’ long-term one-two punch at corner. Ward has been on IR with a concussion since Oct. 18, though, and will miss this Sunday’s game in Berlin against the Falcons.
Gardner is also dealing with a concussion, which kept him out of the Jets’ win over the Bengals in Week 8, but he’ll practice on Wednesday (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com). Head coach Shane Steichen said “the plan” is for Gardner to make his Colts debut this week if he clears concussion protocol. With the Jets on a bye last week, Gardner hasn’t suited up since Oct. 19.
CB Asante Samuel Jr. Cleared To Play, Lining Up Visits
Despite starting for the Chargers during the first four years of his career, free agent cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. has gone without a deal since last season ended. Injury concerns have played a major role in that. After playing just four games in 2024, Samuel underwent spinal fusion surgery last April. The 26-year-old was finally cleared for football activities earlier this week, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Now ready to resume his career, Samuel is drawing interest from teams and could serve as a second-half reinforcement for the club that signs him. He has already lined up visits with the Panthers, Packers, and Vikings, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz (Matt Schneidman of The Athletic first reported Green Bay’s interest).
Carolina is hosting Samuel on Wednesday, Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer relays. The Panthers weren’t expected to contend for a playoff spot this year, but they’re in the mix at 5-4 after upsetting the Packers in Lambeau Field last week.
After Jaycee Horn, their No. 1 cornerback, Mike Jackson and slot corner Chau Smith-Wade have gotten most of the playing time at the position. With a middle-of-the-pack pass defense that ranks 15th in the NFL, the Panthers may regard Samuel as a worthwhile addition.
The Packers have allowed just 197 passing yards per game, good for ninth in the league, but their interest in Samuel comes as corner Nate Hobbs is dealing with a Grade 1 MCL sprain. Hobbs, who left the Packers’ loss to the Panthers with the injury, is expected to miss at least two games, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports.
With Hobbs temporarily unavailable, the Packers are down to Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, and Kamal Hadden at corner. Melton, a converted receiver, and Hadden bring minimal defensive experience to the table. With that in mind, the Packers’ interest in Samuel makes sense.
The 4-4 Vikings, trying to catch the NFC North-leading Packers (5-2-1), rank one spot ahead of Green Bay against the pass. Minnesota has 2024 Pro Bowler Byron Murphy and offseason free agent signing Isaiah Rodgers on hand as starting corners. Murphy and Rodgers have each logged a defensive snap share upward of 91% this year, but depth concerns may lead to a Samuel signing. Jeff Okudah, the third overall pick of the Lions in 2020, has struggled when healthy and is now battling his second concussion of the season. Meanwhile, Fabian Moreau and Dwight McGlothern have combined for just 57 defensive snaps in 2025.
Considering Samuel is a former second-round pick who intercepted two passes in each of his first three seasons, even more suitors could emerge now that he’s healthy. With the trade deadline having passed, Samuel may be the best hope for a team to acquire an impact player over the final couple months of the season.
Cowboys Notes: Wilson, Overshown, Revel
After the Bengals reduced his playing time, linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade out of Cincinnati in late October. The Bengals granted his wish a few hours before the deadline on Tuesday, sending him to the Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick. The Bengals received other offers for Wilson, but they liked the Cowboys’ the best, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Considering the meager return the Bengals accepted for Wilson, it’s fair to say other teams weren’t beating down the door for the 29-year-old. The Colts, Bills, and 49ers were mentioned as speculative fits for Wilson a couple of weeks ago, though it’s unclear if any of those teams joined the Cowboys in making an offer.
A third-round pick from Wyoming in 2020, Wilson became a full-time starter in his second season. In the midst of a stretch in which he piled up 100-plus tackles four seasons in a row, Wilson signed a four-year, $37.25MM extension in August 2023.
The Cowboys didn’t request any adjustments to Wilson’s deal, which runs through 2027, and they were willing to take on his remaining $2.68MM base salary for this year. That may have helped tip the scales in their favor.
Wilson started in seven of eight appearances with the Bengals this year and totaled 40 tackles, but rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight have taken over as their primary linebackers. The Bengals’ defense checks in at last in the NFL, while the Cowboys own the league’s second-worst unit.
The 3-5-1 Cowboys will hope the acquisitions of Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, picked up in a pre-deadline blockbuster with the Jets, help turn the tide. Dallas also has a couple of in-house reinforcements set to make their 2025 debuts. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that the team plans to play linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Shavon Revel after it comes off its bye this week (via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).
Overshown, who missed his rookie year in 2023 with a torn ACL, returned last season to post 90 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed, and an interception in 13 games. However, Overshown suffered yet another serious knee injury – a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL – in Week 14. Overshown opened the 2025 campaign on IR and returned to practice on Oct. 20. The Cowboys also designated Revel to return that day. The third-round rookie from East Carolina tore his ACL last year, forcing him to begin his NFL career on the non-football injury list.
Along with Overshown and Revel, the Cowboys hope to welcome back injured starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson in Week 11, according to Schottenheimer (via Tommy Yarrish of the team’s website). Hooker landed on IR with a toe injury after Week 4. Wilson, who leads the Cowboys with two interceptions, missed their previous two games with an elbow injury.
Colts Considered EDGE Rushers Before Sauce Gardner Trade
In acquiring cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets, the AFC South-leading Colts made the most stunning splash of deadline day on Tuesday. It was also the costliest move of the day, as Colts general manager Chris Ballard boldly surrendered two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to land the two-time first-team All-Pro.
At 7-2, Indianapolis is tied for the NFL’s best record, but the team went into the deadline with another obvious need at edge rusher. The Colts didn’t end up addressing that area, however, and Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star writes that a lack of available impact edge players made it easier for the team to put all of its chips in on Gardner.
The Colts reportedly had pre-deadline interest in the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson, one of the game’s preeminent pass rushers, but he stayed put. The highest-upside rusher to move before the deadline was Jaelan Phillips, who went from the Dolphins to the Eagles for a third-round pick. While Phillips may have helped the Colts’ defense, he likely wouldn’t have transformed the unit the way Gardner could, Erickson observes.
Indianapolis, which ranks sixth in the league in sacks, will go forward with a pass rush led by rising second-year man Laiatu Latu, DeForest Buckner, and Kwity Paye. The hope is the addition of Gardner will take pressure off the entire defense, and the eventual return of another starting cornerback in Charvarius Ward should further help the Colts’ cause. If things go according to plan and those two limit space for receivers at the line of scrimmage, it should lead to fewer quick throws and more success for the Colts’ pass rushers.
Pro Football Focus ranked Ward as the league’s second-best corner before he went on IR with a concussion on Oct. 18. Players on IR are required to miss a minimum of four games. Ward has sat out three, meaning he won’t face the Falcons in Berlin this Sunday. With the Colts on a bye after that, Ward could return to team up with Gardner against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Week 12.
WR Rashid Shaheed Was Unlikely To Re-Sign With Saints
The Saints sent Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks as part of Tuesday’s trade deadline frenzy, receiving fourth- and fifth-round picks for the veteran wide receiver.
New Orleans had previously set an asking price of a third-rounder, but they accepted less value for Shaheed knowing that he was hitting free agency in March. He was hesitant about the team’s quarterback situation, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, making him less likely to re-sign with the Saints.
Sure, the Saints may have been able to earn a compensatory draft pick if Shaheed left in free agency, but that would not come until 2027 and is no guarantee, either. It is also unlikely that Shaheed will receive a large enough contract to qualify for a third-rounder, and teams cannot receive multiple picks for one player through the compensatory system. As a result, the Seahawks’ offer was much better than what the Saints could hope to get by letting him walk in free agency.
Shaheed, meanwhile, lands in a better situation in Seattle. Sam Darnold is having another excellent season, and Shaheed seems positioned to slide into a deep-threat role in an offense that has only been able to rely on Jaxon Smith-Njigba downfield. That could help boost his stock before free agency, but the Seahawks also have their eye on quickly ascending the ranks of the NFC. You could argue they already have with a 6-2 start and top-10 units on both sides of the ball. That may inspire them to pursue an extension with Shaheed if he turns out to be a fit in Klint Kubiak‘s offense.
Jets Trade CB Sauce Gardner To Colts
The Colts have been in the market for cornerback help; they are not skimping on price. A deal is in place that will send Sauce Gardner from New York to Indianapolis, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
The Jets will move on months after making Gardner the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback. Indianapolis will send two first-round picks to the Jets for Gardner, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Gardner already thanked the Jets (via X), as his through-2030 contract is moving to the Colts’ payroll. The picks are in 2026 and 2027.
[RELATED: Examining Jets’ Trade Aftermath]
Indianapolis was believed to be discussing a deal with another team, according to Fox’s Jay Glazer, who adds the Colts believed they had a separate trade done. That proved not to be the case. This unknown agreement falling through has led to one of the biggest DB trades in NFL history going down. Glazer adds wide receiver Adonai Mitchell is going back to the Jets in this trade. We heard earlier today Mitchell, who had been a Colts backup, was drawing trade interest. The Jets are picking up a wideout with team control through 2027.
This is a wildly out-of-character move for Colts GM Chris Ballard, who has shied away from pricey outside acquisitions during his nine-year tenure. But this offseason brought a shift. Ballard made good on a promise to be more open to outside spending, paying up for Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Indianapolis, which already has Kenny Moore on a high-end slot CB contract, has now flooded its secondary with expensive contracts.
Other teams called the Jets on Gardner, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz. It had appeared Gardner was untouchable, as the Jets had extended him in July. But the 1-7 team will aggressively lean into a rebuild, with the two first-rounders becoming lead assets in the Aaron Glenn-Darren Mougey regime’s effort to return the Jets to contention. Gardner is believed to have been stunned by this trade, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, who indicates the young corner learned of it shortly after noon ET today. He is certainly not the only one shocked by the Jets’ course change here.
Gardner and Garrett Wilson loomed as the top pieces to trade, if the Jets were serious about obtaining top draft capital, but lower-level moves — like deals involving Michael Carter II, Quincy Williams and Allen Lazard — were rumored. The team was believed to be listening on Quinnen Williams, but a trade is not viewed as likely. Now, however, the Jets certainly appear more open to blowing it up.
The Jets drafted Gardner fourth overall in 2022 and watched the Cincinnati alum become a central piece in a defensive turnaround. Robert Saleh‘s first defense ranked last; his second, with Gardner as a boundary stopper, rocketed to fourth. Other reasons existed for the ascent, but Gardner represented the biggest variable. Gardner soared to first-team All-Pro acclaim during his first two seasons, becoming one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks. That did not result in Jets wins, but Joe Douglas‘ miss on Zach Wilson limited a well-built defense’s impact.
Gardner, 25, also did not match his 2022-23 form during the ’24 season. The physical corner, who has a reputation for being overly physical at points, graded as a top-three cornerback (per Pro Football Focus) in 2022 and ’23. PFF slotted him 31st in 2024 and ranks him 22nd this year. Glenn’s arrival brought a new system for Gardner to learn, and the new HC will retool at corner. The Jets extended Carter last year and let longtime No. 2 corner D.J. Reed walk in free agency. Now, Carter (traded to the Eagles) and Gardner is gone, fully dismantling Douglas’ CB trio.
Though, trading a slot corner in a Day 3 pick-swap exchange is obviously much different from dealing away a prime perimeter stopper for two first-round picks. The Jets, however, have benefited from a similar move in the fairly recent past. As Douglas’ 2020 negotiations with Jamal Adams were not starting well, the then-second-year GM flipped the All-Pro safety to the Seahawks for two first-rounders, a third and safety Bradley McDougald. Douglas ended up winning that trade, with Adams not coming especially close to justifying his then-safety-record Seattle extension. The Seahawks cut bait during that deal, and the Jets stocked their roster with the two firsts.
Prior to the Adams swap, the Jets also traded Darrelle Revis to the Buccaneers in 2013. The team fetched first- and fourth-rounders for the future Hall of Famer, whom the team had extended in 201o. Revis scored another contract with the Bucs, and the Jets drafted Sheldon Richardson with the first-rounder obtained. Gardner commanding more in a trade return than Revis is less indicative of talent and more tied to his age. Revis was going into an age-28 season at the time of the trade. Gardner will finish out his age-25 campaign with the Colts.
The Jets traded up for Alijah Vera-Tucker with the first of the Adams picks and acquired Wilson with the second first-rounder. Wilson joined Gardner in being extended this offseason. While Wilson was believed to be unhappy as the Aaron Rodgers period waned, Gardner was never connected to any trade rumors. Even as the rumors of Woody Johnson meddling piled up last year, Gardner expressed interest in being a long-term Jet. But the team’s new regime found an offer it couldn’t refuse.
Indianapolis is taking on a $30.1MM-per-year CB extension, doing so after giving Ward a three-year, $48MM deal in March. Both these moves deviate from Ballard’s M.O. at this position. For a while, Moore had been the Colts’ only high-priced CB — and the slot market is well south of the top perimeter deals — excepting Stephon Gilmore‘s one-and-done with the team. The team has changed its stripes and will take on a contract filled with option bonuses.
Despite Patrick Surtain‘s Defensive Player of the Year season, the CB market moved past his $24MM-per-year deal signed last September. Jaycee Horn, Derek Stingley and Gardner eclipsed the star Denver defender. Stingley’s $30MM-AAV accord set up Gardner to pass him, and the Jets OK’d it. For the team to move on after eight games is a shocking development, as a third Jets regime will bail on a standout DB early in his tenure. John Idzik traded Revis, while Douglas unloaded Adams. Mougey will make his mark on the Jets’ roster by shipping out Gardner in-season.
Gardner’s deal only carries a $13.75MM signing bonus, making it easier to trade. Rather than the Jets drowning in dead money by trading a player they just paid, the Colts will be on the hook for a $20MM option bonus in 2026, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. The Jets are only being hit with $19.75MM in dead cap (per Spotrac), which will be spread out through 2027 because of this trade occurring after June 1. While it represents a risk to give up on a player so soon, the Jets’ current regime set up a potential trade with this contract structure. And it found a taker in the Colts, who are likely among the many teams high on the accomplished corner.
The former top-five pick joins a Colts team that has struggled to staff its CB spots. Ward joins third-round rookie Justin Walley on IR, having suffered a concussion in a pregame workout. Ward is expected back, while Walley is out for the season. The Colts just activated Jaylon Jones, however. Jones joined trade pickup Mekhi Blackmon, Cameron Mitchell and rookie UDFA Johnathan Edwards in an unimposing contingent of outside CBs. Gardner changes that equation.
When Ward returns, the Colts can deploy a Gardner-Ward-Moore trio — one that will be among the NFL’s best if all parties play to their capabilities — and be much better-positioned at the position. The team struggled at the non-Moore CB spots, as JuJu Brents could not stay healthy and a gambling suspension ended Isaiah Rodgers‘ Indianapolis tenure, during Gus Bradley‘s final seasons. Lou Anarumo now has a crucial chess piece, as the Colts look to challenge for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Colts sit a surprising 7-2, having seen their offense — prior to a step backward in Pittsburgh — dominate, having scored more points through eight games than any post-merger team in franchise history. The Colts rank first in scoring and seventh in points allowed. Indy’s defensive strength comes through its rush deterrence, however; the team ranks 26th against the pass.
Indianapolis sought CB and EDGE help at the deadline. Part one of that mission is complete, albeit at a far pricier cost than anticipated, and it will be interesting to see if the Colts call it a day or still add at defensive end.
Gardner’s contract hitting the payroll is also interesting for a Colts team that has seen Daniel Jones deliver a bounce-back start to the season. The Colts may no longer be in the low-cost contract business at QB come 2026, should Jones keep going en route to another raise (one the team appears open to), so adding the NFL’s biggest DB contract introduces a complication.
Ballard has been a homegrown-centric GM, to a fault almost, during his tenure. Though, Ballard and HC Shane Steichen certainly faced pressure coming into the season. They are far more committed to this year’s roster than they were entering Tuesday. It will be fascinating to see how the veteran GM manages the roster moving forward, now that he has taken the biggest swing in his executive career.
Mitchell had competed with Alec Pierce for a starting role in 2024, seeing Anthony Richardson‘s accuracy issues make his rookie season harder to evaluate. The former Georgia and Texas pass catcher did post 23 receptions for 312 yards as a rookie. With Tyler Warren entering the fray this offseason, Mitchell had faded to a deep background piece. He has only caught two passes since October began.
Also becoming the second Colt to lose a touchdown by inexplicably dropping the ball on the 1-yard line in two years (after Jonathan Taylor did the same in 2024), Mitchell was viewed as the culprit in the team’s one-score loss to the Rams in Week 4. A holding call on Mitchell negated a Taylor TD in that seven-point defeat. But Mitchell is a second-round pick signed through 2027. The Jets will take what amounts to a flier. More playing time should be expected, as the Jets do not have much of note beyond Garrett Wilson at receiver.