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With a 7-2 record sitting atop the AFC standings, the Indianapolis Colts are looking like the best team in the NFL through Week 10. With the November 4 NFL Trade Deadline already passed, the Colts made one of the biggest moves in trading for DB Sauce Gardner as the New York Jets dismantled their own defense.
Clearly taking an all-in approach and looking to maximize the window of potential MVP candidates Jonathan Taylor and Daniel Jones, the Indianapolis Colts got one step closer to separating themselves from the rest of the top teams in the NFL. Making the most of a tough situation in East Rutherford, NJ, the trade deadline for the Colts could widely be considered a rousing success in how much better the team just got on defense.
The Colts send 2026, 2027 first-round draft picks and WR Adonai Mitchell in exchange for the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year and three-time All-Pro, effectively boosting a secondary that already could have used some work. We’ll take a look at how the Colts’ blockbuster deadline move set the stage for the rest of their season.
Prior to trading for DB Sauce Gardner, the Indianapolis Colts’ defense allowed the seventh-most passing yards (244.8) per game to opponents and have given up 15 touchdowns through the air. While their offense is the top-scoring unit in the NFL, many of their games have turned into shootouts where every offensive possession proves to be crucial. In adding Gardner, the Colts now have a lockdown corner to stop the opposing teams’ No. 1 passing option, ultimately giving their offense more chances with the ball.
Additionally, every team built for late-season success needs to have a cornerback who can play press man coverage. Once the temperature starts to drop and the pace of the game slows down, the Colts will be lucky having a big, physical corner like Gardner out on the perimeters.
With quarterback Daniel Jones having the best season of his career and running back Jonathan Taylor making a strong case for MVP of the league, the two have complemented each other perfectly behind this talented offensive line. Jones is systematic in running the offense and getting the ball to an athletic group of receivers, all while Taylor average 5.7 yards a carry.
With all the pieces in position on offense with the highest-scoring unit in the league, the Sauce Gardner acquisition puts this team over the top in terms of their talent at all three phases of the game. While Gardner continues to nurse a minor injury, it won’t be long before he’s in the lineup and making an immediate impact, all thanks to the NFL trade deadline.
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