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Jets Send Sauce Gardner to Colts, Quinnen Williams to Cowboys in Deadline Overhaul

The deals stockpile five first-round picks to fund a rebuild with expanded cap space.

Overview

  • Indianapolis acquired Sauce Gardner for 2026 and 2027 first-round picks plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
  • Dallas landed Quinnen Williams in a package that sent a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to New York.
  • New York now holds five first-round picks across 2026 and 2027 along with multiple second-rounders and is projected to have about $117 million in cap space.
  • GM Darren Mougey said Gardner’s July extension was structured to allow trade flexibility and that the Colts’ offer kept increasing until it was too strong to decline.
  • Pat McAfee announced Gardner will wear No. 1 for the Colts as Josh Downs moves to No. 2, and analysts say Gardner’s coverage could enable more aggressive blitzing.