"That is exactly what happened here, as multiple reporters, including Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic ( deadline trade sending cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts in exchange for a 2026 first-rounder, a 2027 first-rounder, and wide receiver Adonai Mitchellsubscription required), detail that the framework of the Gardner deal - and the other swaps New York made - began to take shape in Week 4."
"The idea was to avoid recency bias as the November 4 deadline approached and other clubs began making trade offers. So, although ESPN's Rich Cimini says the Jets never intended to move Gardner - whom they signed to a four-year, $120.4MM contract extension in July - they did establish what it would take to consider trading him if an offer came in."
Weekly meetings began in Week 4 where GM Darren Mougey and his staff assessed the trade value of every roster player to avoid recency bias before the November 4 trade deadline. The Jets had signed cornerback Sauce Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension in July but established an asking price for him: two first-round picks plus a quality player. Indianapolis faced cornerback injuries, prompting assistant GM Ed Dodds to call around the league for help. Dodds' outreach led to discussions with Mougey and Colts GM Chris Ballard. Indianapolis' offers increased over time, producing a trade framework that culminated in the Gardner deal.
Read at Pro Football Rumors
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