Overview
- The Jets traded two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
- Dallas acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams from New York for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick that conveys as the better of two, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
- The Cowboys also added linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals for a 2026 seventh-round pick as part of a push to bolster a defense ranked near the bottom in yards and points allowed.
- New York exits the deadline with three future first-rounders, an extra second-rounder, young players and expanded 2026 cap flexibility, setting up a multi-year rebuild.
- Indianapolis cast Gardner as a win-now addition for a 7-2 team, while post-deadline analysis praised the Colts’ surge and questioned the Cowboys’ broader plan despite the immediate upgrade.