When the Jets sent their cornerback, Sauce Gardner, to the Colts, many fans were stunned. He’d been one of their best players. However, when you look at the trade from a closer perspective, the deal makes sense for both sides. The Jets walked away with two first-round draft picks. That gives them a strong foundation to rebuild which many fans think they need. Meanwhile, the Colts were able to get a great player who can help fix their defense.
Even Gardner himself was surprised by this move. “I’m not going to lie, I didn’t even have time to process it all the way,” he said. “I just knew like I was coming into a great situation. The first thing I’m thinking is I’m back with my boy (Colts receiver) Alec (Pierce). They’re winning right now, so, like, what can I add. But at the same time, I didn’t have no time (to think about it). That’s just part of the business.”
For the Jets, this is about the future. Their record was poor, and they needed to look ahead and work towards something better for themselves. By sacrificing a big name like Gardner, it shows that they’re truly thinking long term. They now have extra picks and can use them to build as well as strengthen their weak spots. The fact that they got two first-rounders tells you how serious the Colts were.
On the Colts’ side, this is about now rather than looking forward to the future. They were a team in the mix with a win-loss rate of 7-2 when the trade happened. Their pass defense is a clear weakness. By adding a player of Gardner’s calibre, they’re hoping to work on fixing that quickly. When you believe you can win soon, the cost of giving up two first-round picks becomes reasonable. The Colts seem to be saying they are willing to trade future assets to improve today. That chance might pay off, or it might not. Naturally, this is a risky situation. Some are even already saying the Colts “gave up too much”. Still, if Gardner performs at his best, this decision could push them into a great position to win more games.
Basically, to wrap this all up, the Jets get new picks. The Colts get a great defensive player who’s more than ready to help. Both teams were able to move closer to their goals with this deal, one hoping for a rebuild and the other hoping for a breakthrough. If all goes well, this trade will be remembered as smart for both sides, just in different ways.
