Jets' Gardner and Williams trades yield three first-round picks but leave roster thin

The New York Jets have restructured their future through two major defensive trades made on Nov. 4, 2025, a move that has reshaped the rosters and leadership of three NFL franchises over the past 365 days.

Ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline that day, general manager Darrell Bevear sent cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. The combined record of the Jets, Colts, and Cowboys since that date stands at 14 wins and 35 losses.

The fallout in Indianapolis has been severe. The Colts were 7-2 at the time of the trade but have since lost 13 of their last 16 games. General manager Chris Ballard was fired on Oct. 19, and head coach Shane Steichen is battling for his position with a 3-13 record since acquiring Gardner. The team recently traded veteran guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for draft capital and suffered a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Gardner has played in only 11 of 16 possible games due to calf injuries. He described the situation as tough but accepted the circumstances as part of a larger plan. The Colts face a roster rebuild complicated by the loss of their 2027 first-round pick.

In Dallas, Quinnen Williams has found a stable role. The Cowboys signed him to a three-year, $105.9 million extension in August 2026. Williams leads the league in tackles for loss among defensive tackles with 11 and tops the Cowboys with five sacks. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer noted that Williams commands respect in the locker room, where he sits next to quarterback Dak Prescott. The Cowboys maintain a 43% probability of making the playoffs.

The Jets received substantial compensation for both players. The Gardner deal returned first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 along with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The Williams trade brought a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and the rights to the better of two 2027 first-round selections from Dallas. New York became the first team in the common-draft era to make multiple in-season trades to acquire first-round picks.

The direct on-field impact remains limited. Mitchell is the only player from these deals currently starting, having recorded a career-high 142 receiving yards in his most recent game. The trades opened a starting job for 2025 third-round pick Azareye'h Thomas, who said he was shocked to step in behind Gardner. Head coach Aaron Glenn, who is 4-13, declined to deeply analyze the trades, referring to both former players as quality people.

Financial and defensive costs persist. The Jets are carrying nearly $21 million in 2026 cap hits from these transactions. Their interior defensive line has produced only three sacks this season, with no player ranking in the top 40 in ESPN's pass rush win rate.

The final evaluation will occur in April when the draft begins. ESPN Analytics projects the Jets will hold the fifth, sixth, and 14th selections, with the Colts' pick potentially moving into the top four. This would make New York the second franchise in 25 years to enter the draft with three first-round picks, following the 2019 Las Vegas Raiders.

League personnel executives view the moves favorably for New York. One AFC personnel scout called the Gardner trade one of the best in Jets history due to the draft compensation, while a former NFC general manager stated the trades worked out well and the team can improve quickly if they find a quarterback.