The Indianapolis Colts made one of the biggest trades of the 2025 season when they acquired Sauce Gardner in a deadline deal with the New York Jets.
The Colts pulled off the swing-for-the-fences trade on deadline day, sending the Jets two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell in exchange for Gardner.
To say that kind of trade is uncharacteristic for Colts general manager Chris Ballard would be an understatement, but this is no typical season for Indianapolis.
Ballard had all the reason in the world to go all in by acquiring Gardner. The Colts are sitting with a 7-2 record entering Week 10 and have performed like one of the best teams in the league this season.
Adding to that, Indy had a huge need at cornerback after Xavien Howard retired and Charvarius Ward was placed on injured reserve with a concussion.
Why Colts traded Adonai Mitchell to Jets
The Colts really had no use for Mitchell in 2025, as Indianapolis has great depth at the wide receiver with a trio that includes Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, so giving him up to make the Gardner trade happen was an easy decision.
Adding to that, Mitchell had clearly fallen out of favor with the team after he dropped the ball right before crossing the goal line for what would've been a touchdown in Week 4.
Mitchell was a healthy scratch in Week 6 as a result, and he didn't play more than nine snaps in any of his last four games with the team. It was very clear his days were always numbered.
In fact, Mitchell likely would've been traded even if the Gardner deal didn't happen, as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported he was about to be shipped to the Cleveland Browns before the Jets acquired him.
The trade is likely a blessing for Mitchell, anyway.
Granted, he's going to the Jets, but he's also in a situation where he could have a much bigger role than he did in Indy with Garrett Wilson being his only real competition for targets.
Whether or not he can capitalize with a bigger role remains to be seen, though.
More NFL News
- When is DeForest Buckner coming back? Latest injury update on star DT
- Bears almost acquired former second-round CB at the trade deadline
- Browns nearly traded for former second-round WR at the deadline
- Josh Allen among Bills handed punishments for Week 9 infractions
- Kyler Murray rumor is intriguing news for Vikings, Steelers
- Steelers were snubbed by two wide receivers at the trade deadline
- Steelers predicted to replace Aaron Rodgers with former 4,000-yard QB