According to Spotrac, new Indianapolis Colts 2x NFL First-Team All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner’s salary cap hits have come in both for the remainder of the 2025 campaign and beyond:
It’s worth noting that the former 4th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft signed a 4-year, $120.4 million contract extension this past offseason before New York shockingly sent him to Indianapolis ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s blockbuster of a trade deadline.
However, as Spotrac notes, the Jets’ unique structuring of Gardner’s recent mega-contract extension allowed for Tuesday’s trade deadline deal, which sent shockwaves throughout league circles and the national media alike:
For the Colts, the ramifications of this move mean a few things going forward both from a potential salary cap standpoint and likely who will continue to be overseeing the overall management of it atop:
- After the team’s hot start at 7-2, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is likely here to stay for at least the next few years. Team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her sisters weren’t going to let him mortgage the franchise’s future by dealing the team’s 2026 and 2027 first round picks, along with young wideout AD Mitchell, if the longtime football exec wasn’t going to be around to help oversee it.
- The Colts likely are convinced that new veteran starter Daniel Jones is the answer for at least the new few seasons—and that a lucrative, multi-year extension is looming from Indianapolis. On the other hand, Indianapolis may also look to deal since demoted (and currently injured) 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson to both recoup some lost draft capital and/or free up some of his 2026 cap hit at $10.8M—and provide him a fresh start for playing time and to compete for a job elsewhere.
- After dealing young wideout AD Mitchell, the Colts currently lack an internal replacement option should pending 2026 free agent wide receiver Alec Pierce depart this next offseason. As one of the league’s premier deep threats, Pierce shouldn’t lack his fair share of contending suitors—particularly from the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs or Baltimore Ravens, should Indianapolis allow him to actually hit the open market.
It’s worth noting that with Gardner only hitting the salary cap at $9.5M next year, that him and veteran corner Charvarius Ward are combining for just around $29.6 million, which is much smaller than Gardner’s potential salary cap number previously thrown out by SI.com’s Albert Breer—and conversely, much more manageable as it relates to allocating salary cap resources to a singular defensive position.
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