With the 2026 NFL Draft weekend upon us, teams will introduce their latest rookie class to the league in hopes of having them become part of the next Super Bowl puzzle. The draft also means finalizing past trades that included future draft picks. A big one was the November 2025 trade that sent cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets to the Indianapolis Colts.

Jets receive: Adonai Mitchell, 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick

The Colts were 7-2 when they traded for Gardner, so they thought they would be handing the Jets a pick late in the first round. However, the Colts lost their last seven games and finished the season 8-9, giving them the No. 16 overall pick.

With that selection, the Jets selected xxx xxx. We will update.

They obviously still have a 2027 NFL Draft pick to work with, as well.

Mitchell immediately stepped into the lineup for the Jets in 2025. He started four games, playing in eight total for New York. He snagged 24 receptions for 301 yards ad two touchdowns in New Jersey. He is likely slottedinto a starting spot heading into 2026.

Gardner was expected to be the player that would help the Colts contend for a Super Bowl appearance in 2025. Instead, the Colts lost their final seven games of the season despite the addition of Gardner.

Gardner was limited to four games with the Colts down the stretch due to injury.

While the Colts still haven’t seen the true benefits of adding Gardner, it’s hard not to look at the Jets as the winner of the trade. The Jets were able to add two first-round picks and a receiver with upside in Mitchell.

The Jets have to hit on their picks, but they should have a good chance to do that, starting with xxx xxx this year and finishing it off in 2027 with another strong player.