When a fan base is constantly told to “wait until next year” and that “the future is bright,” only to discover the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train, it becomes difficult to believe in anything good. The New York Jets have been that kind of franchise—and more—for quite some time.
That said, the New York Jets absolutely won this week’s trade deadline and now appear loaded with a bright future ahead.
The Jets made the difficult decision to trade away two of their most productive and talented players to reset the franchise—but they certainly hit the reset button.
In a stunning move, the Jets traded popular cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts, shocking fans and even the All-Pro himself. The team had just signed Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July and hired a defensive-minded head coach who once played cornerback for the Jets. Adding to the shakeup, they also dealt star defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys.
For Jets fans, it’s asking a lot to process these moves and still be optimistic—but the team absolutely won both trades. By moving their stars, the Jets shed massive contracts, added a 23-year-old explosive receiver in Adonai Mitchell, a 24-year-old defensive lineman to fill in for Williams, and, most importantly, acquired a wealth of draft capital.
New York received two first-round picks for Gardner (2026 and 2027), plus another 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick.
In NFL trade terms, this is a massive haul and could one day be viewed as a genius move—if Gang Green drafts wisely. Jets fans know heartbreak well, but perhaps this time, the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t an oncoming train—it’s a new direction for a team that has desperately needed one.