Myles Garrett trade makes Jets’ Sauce Gardner deal look like highway robbery

It has been eight months since the trade made the blockbuster trade that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks. At the time, it was a shocking move for a team that gave Garrett Wilson and Gardner massive extensions in July.

Gardner was one of New York's best players, but the deal that the Colts offered was too good to pass up. Getting two first-round picks for a cornerback was tremendous value, and the Myles Garrett trade showed how much the Jets robbed Indianapolis.

The Cleveland Browns moved Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2027 first-round pick, 2028 second-round pick, 2029 third-round pick, and defensive end Jared Verse.

While the Browns viewed Verse as essentially another first-round pick, the Jets got more premium assets for Gardner than Cleveland got for Garrett. And that's yet another example of the great work from general manager Darren Mougey.

Jets trade haul for Sauce Gardner continues to age well

Garrett is one of the best defensive players in the NFL, as he's coming off an NFL record 23 sack campaign in 2025. Over nine seasons, Garrett has 125.5 sacks with seven All-Pro nods, seven Pro Bowl selections, and two Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Gardner isn't a slouch either, as he is a two-time First-team All-Pro and is just 25 years old. Before the Colts made the move for Sauce, they were 7-2 and felt like they were Super Bowl contenders. They went all in and made a splashy move for Gardner, but it blew up in their face, as they finished 8-9.

That slide led to New York getting the 16th overall pick from Indy, in which they selected Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. And the fact that New York gets Indy's first-round pick in a highly discussed 2027 draft class is priceless.

There have been some massive trades that have occurred since, including Trent McDuffie, Dexter Lawrence, Jaylen Waddle, and A.J. Brown. Yet none of those teams were able to fetch multiple first-rounders.

It can't be understated how much value the Jets were able to get, and the Garrett trade is the latest example.

The odds that a non-quarterback gets moved for multiple first-rounders seem slim to none, especially with how things ended for the Colts in 2025. Mougey deserves his flowers for the decision to cut bait with Gardner, as the haul has proven way too good an offer to pass on.

Fans will hope the Colts struggle again in 2026, giving them a high draft pick in 2027, as New York will be searching to select their franchise quarterback next April. And the assets from Gardner's deal could help them get that young signal caller.

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