Sauce Gardner may be the one that got away from Les Snead at the trade deadline

When we sat down to formulate the Los Angeles Rams' biggest and splashiest possible trades at the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the move that jumped off the page was obvious. Prying cornerback Sauce Gardner from a floundering New York Jets team seemed like a no-brainer. A trade of that magnitude had the type of all-in impact that warranted Les Snead's meticulous and magical attention.

Well, the Jets have agreed to trade elite cornerback Sauce Gardner. But he is not booking a flight to Los Angeles, California. He is flying off to Indianapolis, Indiana, to join the Colts in a blockbuster trade that just made the top AFC team that much stronger as the push for the postseason begins.

The price was steep, but not unexpected. Per NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Jets will take title to two first-round picks, plus wide receiver A.D. Mitchell for Gardner. Mitchell is a young but underperforming receiver in the Colts' offense, chosen in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. And there it is. An elite cornerback who was an unquestionable needle-mover gets traded.

But not to the Rams.

Sauce Gardner was there for the taking, Les Snead

The pushback on our suggestion that Sauce Gardner was up for grabs was instant and harsh. Fans are not shy about chiming in when they disagree. The fact that Gardner is on the move is vindication that sometimes even unlikely trades take place.

Bad teams are eager to get out of high-cost contracts, no matter how valuable the player may be on the right roster. Savings to a salary cap pay it forward to the upcoming season. Draft picks obtained in any exchange can be used to reload the team for a go in the next year. But even the removal of an elite player reduces the chance of success going forward, improving the value of every draft pick held.

Would Gardner have made the Rams a Super Bowl winner? While it's all speculation, it's hard to argue otherwise. That is especially true for a defense that is clobbering opponents in both run defense and in rushing the passer. And cornerback is a position that was definitely on the shopping list.

No Sauce Gardner for the Rams. That's one of the few gaffes that general manager Les Snead has made in a very long time.

As always, thanks for reading.