Jets Trade All-Pro Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams in Blockbuster Moves
BREAKING: The New York Jets have just announced major trades, sending two star defensive players, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, to different teams in a sweeping rebuilding effort. This comes as the Jets aim to break the NFL’s longest active playoff drought, currently standing at over a decade.
Sauce Gardner, a two-time All-Pro cornerback, is headed to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two first-round draft picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The Jets will receive the Colts’ first-round selections in 2026 and 2027, marking a significant shift for the franchise. Meanwhile, Quinnen Williams, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, is moving to the Dallas Cowboys for a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
This dual trade, confirmed by AP sources, is expected to reshape both the Jets and their new teams. The Cowboys, currently with a record of 3-5-1 and the second-worst defense in the league, are looking to bolster their unit ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline at 4 p.m. EST today. In a further move to enhance their defense, the Cowboys also acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals for a seventh-round pick.
Gardner, who signed a lucrative four-year, $120.4 million extension with the Jets just this past July, joins the Colts, who currently lead the AFC South with a strong 7-2 record. This trade marks a significant turnaround for Gardner, who spent his first three and a half seasons with a Jets team that struggled to find success.
As for Williams, his impact in Dallas is anticipated to be immediate, with the Cowboys looking to improve their defensive performance. He is signed through 2027 at an average of $24 million per season.
Other notable trades include wide receiver Jakobi Meyers moving from the Las Vegas Raiders to the Jacksonville Jaguars for fourth and sixth-round draft picks, and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed joining the Seattle Seahawks from the New Orleans Saints for fourth and fifth-round selections.
In a statement about the trade, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised Wilson’s abilities, emphasizing the immediate impact he can have on the team’s defense. “He knows how to get in the gaps right now,” Jones said on his radio show.
The Philadelphia Eagles, reigning Super Bowl champions, have also been active, acquiring edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander to strengthen their roster in pursuit of a title repeat.
The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, with teams across the league scrambling to finalize moves before the cutoff. As these trades unfold, the landscape of the league is shifting dramatically, making every game and matchup crucial as teams strive for playoff positioning.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops and the trade deadline approaches.
