Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were part of significant trade moves that saw them changing teams from the New York Jets. The Jets made these trades to acquire draft picks and players as they aim to rebuild a team that has struggled with the longest active playoff drought in the NFL.
Gardner, a highly regarded cornerback, was traded 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 picks in both 2026 and 2027.
On the other hand, Williams is set to join the Dallas Cowboys after the Jets agreed to trade him for a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The deal, which was not yet officially announced by the teams, will also see the Jets getting the better of the Cowboys’ two first-round picks in 2027.
In a separate move on a busy trade deadline day, the Cowboys acquired linebacker Logan Wilson from the Cincinnati Bengals, while wide receiver Jakobi Meyers was traded from Las Vegas to Jacksonville for draft picks. The Seattle Seahawks also made a trade with the New Orleans Saints to acquire wideout Rashid Shaheed in exchange for draft picks.
Gardner, who had recently signed a lucrative contract extension with the Jets, will now join the AFC South-leading Colts. Williams, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, will bolster the Cowboys’ defense with his skills and experience.
The reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, have been active in the trade market leading up to the deadline, adding edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander to their roster. These moves are aimed at strengthening the team’s chances for a successful title defense.
Several other trades had already taken place earlier, including the acquisition of players like Joe Flacco, Roger McCreary, Keion White, and Kyle Dugger by various teams in the league. The trade deadline saw teams making strategic moves to address roster needs and improve their competitiveness.