Jets' stunning Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams trades hints at another massive move

Literally no one had Sauce Gardner getting traded on their bingo cards, but that's life in the NFL (and today's era of sports in general). As we're growing accustomed to, no player is safe, as encapsulated by the star cornerback suddenly taking his talents to the Indianapolis Colts.

New York pulled off one of the most stunning moves in league history by sending Gardner to the Colts. He just turned 25 in August, already has two All-Pro First Team nods, and is signed through 2030. Willingly parting with him has the potential to age horrendously for the Jets, so doing so better not come without good reason.

Obviously, what the Jets do with their newfound premium assets and how ex-Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell will factor into who ultimately the Sauce swap. However, the impact it might have on standout running back Breece Hall's future in New York is a fascinating and perhaps franchise-altering secondary storyline.

Jets’ shocking blockbuster Sauce Gardner trade could foreshadow Breece Hall extension

As Jets fans know, Hall's name has been churning through the rumor mill for months, dating back to this past offseason. Until recently, it felt as though he could be had for the right price. But recent intel suggests New York may have changed their stance on shipping him elsewhere.

ESPN's Dan Graziano reported that members of the Jets organization have been "leery" of rerouting Hall ahead of Week 9. While the 2022 second-round pick is on an expiring deal, New York bringing him back for next year has seemed "more possible" than before. A continued partnership becomes much more plausible with Gardner's $30.1 million average annual salary off the books.

Gardner heading to Indy doesn't free up much money in the short term. Nevertheless, from a wider lens, New York now has more room to operate. Not to mention, the other blockbuster swap that sent now-former Jets Pro Bowl defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys creates additional flexibility.

Yet, Hall sticking around in New York beyond 2025 as a result of Gardner and Williams' departures would be chalked up as a happy accident. This was presumably more of a case of the Jets getting offers they can't refuse than them accounting for a payday for the talented tailback.