Jets just made one of the most shocking trades in NFL history

The unthinkable just happened. The New York Jets have reportedly traded All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, just months after signing him to a record-breaking four-year, $120.4 million extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Jets are receiving two first-round picks in return, but that hardly softens the blow of what might go down as one of the most shocking trades in modern NFL history.

Gardner, the face of the Jets’ defense and a two-time first-team All-Pro at just 25 years old, was viewed as a cornerstone of the Aaron Glenn era in New York. Instead, he’s gone before his massive new contract even truly kicked in.

What can you even say? This move sends shockwaves across the league and leaves Jets fans in absolute disbelief, not just because of who was traded, but because it seemed impossible.

Jets trade Sauce Gardner to the Colts in an absolute stunner

Gardner has established himself as one of the premier cornerbacks in the NFL. Not only is Gardner arguably the best player at his position, but he's one of the most valuable defensive players in football.

The Jets are reportedly receiving a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and former second-round pick, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mitchell will give the Jets additional wide receiver help, but at what cost?

Gardner was supposed to be untouchable — a player you build around, not one you move in the middle of his prime. The Jets received about as sizable a haul as you could expect for a player of his caliber, but there’s arguably no amount of draft capital that can replace what he meant to this franchise.

This is one of the single most shocking moments not only in New York Jets history, but in recent NFL memory. The kind of move that fans will remember exactly where they were when they saw the alert — a trade that changes everything, instantly and completely.

The Jets have traded Sauce Gardner. What just happened?