After the Jets made the trade for cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr., this could probably signal the end for superstar Sauce Gardner. According to the breaking news, in a shocking trade, the Jets are acquiring the young defensive talent, Brownlee, to salvage the secondary unit. While the Jets are 0-3, they’re looking to back down from this season as a trade probably points them in a direction where they still want to fight for postseason contenders. It might be hard to do that as most 0-3 teams don’t make it in the end, at least in the wild-card seeding.
If the Jets continue to lose and can’t figure out how to break into this 2025 campaign, they may have to trade one of their best cornerbacks. Originally selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the former Cincinnati product has become one of the best secondary talents in the league. He became the subject of trade rumors during the 2024 regular season when the Jets were having an atrocious year, led by veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Despite that, Gardner stuck around and earned himself a new blockbuster extension this past offseason, which locks him as a Jet through 2030.
This doesn’t mean the Jets will keep him, as a fire sale might be the thing the team could do in this situation. They could get tons of draft capital to build for the future to surround Justin Fields, and these three teams could take advantage of the moment.
Breaking: Jets Latest Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Trade Could Signal Shocking Sauce Gardner Departure
Possible Dream Teams
Dallas Cowboys
With the way the Dallas Cowboys’ secondary has been, the team is in dire need of a cornerback. They can’t afford to put an unproven Robert Rochell in the mix while DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs are dealing with injuries again. While the team could reunite with veteran Stephon Gilmore, Jerry Jones did say he’s open to trading both first-round picks for a “special player,” and that could be Gardner.
The cornerback might be the answer that Dallas is looking for. Despite extending Bland, this doesn’t mean his job is necessarily safe if he can’t stay healthy. Diggs hasn’t been the most explosive ever since his rookie days, and it’s hard to imagine he’s a Cowboy after the 2025 regular season. Gardner could probably revive this secondary room and position the Cowboys in the best spot possible.
New Orleans Saints
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints haven’t found a true superstar cornerback since trading Marshon Lattimore last year and letting Paulson Adebo hit free agency this past offseason. Even though the Saints are 0-3 as well, it doesn’t mean the team won’t trade for him. Gardner could be more durable than Lattimore and Adebo combined and might be the spark the Saints need to wake this team up between Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alontae Taylor.
Chicago Bears
However, the Chicago Bears should be in the market for a cornerback after losing Jaylon Johnson indefinitely. While Nahshon Wright and Tyrique Stevenson aren’t the worst of this unit, they need a superstar to jump this Bears roster. With Chicago repairing the offensive line, they should have the same energy for the cornerback room, and Gardner might be the missing puzzle piece.
