Jets hold three first-round picks after trading Gardner and Williams
One year after the blockbuster deals, the combined record of the three involved teams is 14-35, and key personnel changes have occurred at the Colts and Cowboys.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
The New York Jets hold three first-round selections for the upcoming draft. This accumulation of capital resulted from two trades executed on Nov. 4, 2025, involving star defensive players Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. The combined record of the Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and Dallas Cowboys since those deals is 14-35.
The trades occurred just before the 4 p.m. ET deadline. The Colts acquired Gardner at 12:47 p.m. The Cowboys acquired Williams at 2:05 p.m. These moves were part of a strategy to address immediate roster needs while altering the financial and draft landscapes of three franchises. The Jets accepted short-term losses to secure long-term assets.
The personnel consequences have been immediate. Chris Ballard, the general manager of the Colts, was fired on Oct. 19. Aaron Glenn, head coach of the Jets, is 4-13 and faces job uncertainty. Shane Steichen, head coach of the Colts, is 3-13 and also fights for his position. Brian Schottenheimer, the Dallas coach, remains under pressure to improve a defense that still struggles against the run.
In the Gardner deal, the Jets received first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, plus wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. In the Williams deal, they received a second-round pick in 2026, a first-round pick in 2027, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith. The Jets also secured the rights to the better of the Cowboys' two first-round picks in 2027. This includes the selection derived from the Micah Parsons trade.
Gardner has missed five of 16 games since the trade due to calf injuries. The Colts, who previously held a 7-2 record, have since parted with guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner for draft capital. This sell-off follows the team's decline, including a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Gardner, who signed a four-year, $120 million extension five months before the trade, stated that he embraces the current situation.
Williams has shown improvement with Dallas, posting 11 tackles for loss, second in the NFL. He leads the Cowboys in sacks with five. The team signed him to a three-year extension worth $105.9 million in August. Despite this, the Cowboys continue to rank low in run defense efficiency. Schottenheimer noted that Williams' leadership in the locker room has increased as he settles into the role.
The Jets have used their new capital to select tight end Kenyon Sadiq and nickelback D'Angelo Ponds in the 2026 draft. They also traded up to select wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the first round. Mitchell, the receiver acquired in the Gardner deal, has played in 12 games and recently recorded a career-high 142 receiving yards. The team is taking nearly $21 million in cap hits for these trades in 2026.
A former NFC general manager described the decision to trade two prime-age defensive stars as bold. He noted that the next coach will inherit a favorable situation if Aaron Glenn is not retained. The Jets' strategy relies on converting their three first-round picks into a franchise quarterback. Current starter Geno Smith, 36, is viewed as a bridge player while the team evaluates its options.
The Jets are the first team in the common-draft era to make multiple in-season trades for first-round picks. The next trade deadline is approaching, and the three teams will evaluate their rosters against the backdrop of last year's historic moves. The draft in April will determine whether the Jets successfully convert their draft bounty into a long-term solution at the quarterback position.
