​The Indianapolis Colts pulled off one of the NFL’s biggest deadline moves last year, sending two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the New York Jets in exchange for cornerback Sauce Gardner. It’s a blockbuster deal by any standard, but the Colts clearly had both the present and the future in mind with the trade.
Gardner, who recently clarified confusion about his age, will turn 25 just before this season and has already logged four NFL seasons. He is under contract through 2030. When CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan recently ranked the top 25 players in the NFL under 25, Gardner landed at No. 23. Sullivan noted, “The Colts gave up a haul last season to acquire Sauce Gardner, shipping two first-round picks and receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets. Gardner has the talent to be the best player at his position and already has two first-team All-Pro nods on his résumé.” Nevertheless, Sullivan also pointed out some bumps in Gardner’s early career, which is why he’s placed in the bottom half of the list for now. If Gardner lives up to the price Indy paid, he could reestablish himself as one of the NFL’s premier young corners.
Gardner’s praise isn’t limited to national rankings. He was recently named the NFL’s ninth-best corner and began his career with a splash, capturing the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2022 and earning First-Team All-Pro honors as well as Pro Bowl selections in both 2022 and 2023. Yet his time in Indianapolis hasn’t unfolded as smoothly as hoped. After the trade, he appeared in only two full games for the Colts and totaled just four appearances due to a calf injury, finishing with 16 tackles and three pass breakups.
In 2025, Gardner showcased his upside when on the field. Pro Football Focus highlighted his strong performance, noting he allowed a 48.6% completion rate when targeted and tied for second in the NFL among corners in forced incompletion rate at 26%. His overall defensive grade of 76.9 ranked ninth nationally, underscoring his impact when healthy and on the field.
Colts secondary coach and pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt recently voiced high regard for Gardner’s value and the breadth of what he brings to the defense. “Well, he’s a guy that sees the big picture,” Hewitt explained. “But along with that, you’ve still got to be a great technician and know what’s about to happen to you as a player. So pre-snap looks, all your studies throughout the week. He does a great job of doing that, retaining the information, knowing what looks he’s about to expect, and being able to have an opportunity to go make plays on the ball. So, he’s definitely one of those guys that’s always a step ahead.”
Looking ahead, Colts fans should be mindful of the emergence of young talent in the organization. While Sullivan’s 25-Under-25 list excluded rookies, Colts fans should keep an eye on first-year players CJ Allen and A.J. Haulcy, who could become future candidates for such rankings as their NFL careers progress. Gardner’s trajectory remains a focal point for the Colts, with the potential to cement him as one of the league’s elite cornerbacks if he can stay healthy and consistently perform at the level he’s shown when available.