Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams are still helping Jets in Colts-Cowboys tank-off

While the New York Jets were in the middle of getting bludgeoned by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, perhaps the game most relevant to the long-term future of the Jets went down between the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts. Oddly enough, it was Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams who helped this 27-23 game go in Dallas' favor.

The Jets currently own both of these teams' first-round picks. With the Colts roaring back from 20-10 down to take a 23-20 lead, Dallas connected on a 46-yard pass play that put them in Colts territory immediately on the ensuing drive. Against all odds, it was Gardner giving up the big play, as Ryan Flournoy got behind the former Jets first-rounder.

On the ensuing drive, it was Williams, who led Dallas in tackles and has been the best defensive player on that wretched unit all season long, who broke into the Colts' backfield and forced an errant Daniel Jones throw that was intercepted by Caleb Downs. The Colts' loss is good news for the Jets, and two former All-Pros in New York played a part in that result.

Jets benefit as Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner help Cowboys defeat Colts

Williams came into this game third in the NFL in pressures among qualified defensive linemen, and that comes with a struggling coach and a lack of talent around him up front. While Dallas overpaid in this trade, Williams has been the same game-breaking talent he was with the Jets. In some regards, this may be a win-win trade.

The Gardner trade with Indianapolis appears to be more lopsided in New York's favor. In many ways, the story remains the same from his Jets days. As a whole, Gardner is still rarely getting targeted and locks down top receivers. However, his team is still bad, and he has been at fault for a few big plays at inopportune times.

Even though Adonai Mitchell, acquired in the Sauce Gardner trade, has been up-and-down, the Jets coming away with a tight end of the future in Kenyon Sadiq and a pick that could help them land a franchise quarterback would make this one of the biggest trade heists in recent NFL history.

The New York Jets are positioned well in the 2027 NFL Draft

If the season ended today, the Jets would have the No. 4 pick via the Indianapolis trade and the No. 6 pick via their own ineptitude. Whichever of the Cowboys or Packers has a worse record would push their pick to the Jets, meaning that Dallas would currently fork over the No. 13 selection.

The Jets are in position to land a franchise quarterback, bring in a cornerback with a higher ceiling than Brandon Stephens or Azareye'h Thomas, and revitalize a weak defensive line. This is all thanks to selling high on two players who were part of a bygone era of Jets football.

Dallas winning and Indianapolis losing would have been the best result for the Jets, and it wouldn't have been possible if two former Jets, Gardner and Williams, had managed to come through for their old team one last time.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow