The Bills are aiming to strengthen their roster ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. In contrast, their divisional rivals, the New York Jets, have made moves that have weakened their lineup.
Jets Trade Sauce Gardner to Colts
According to Ian Rapoport from NFL Network, the Jets plan to trade cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. In return, they will receive first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, along with wide receiver AD Mitchell.
The Jets currently hold a 1-7 record, so it wasn’t surprising that they made a trade. However, dealing Gardner — who they selected in the 2022 NFL Draft and signed to a four-year, $120 million contract extension this offseason — was unexpected, as he was believed to be a key part of the team’s long-term plans.
New York is focused on building for the future, starting with the selection of a quarterback in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. There’s a chance that next year’s draft class might not feature many standout college quarterbacks, so the Jets may need to consider trading up to secure one. Having the Colts‘ first-round pick could greatly assist in that strategy.
The Jets are unlikely to be playoff contenders anytime soon unless they hit on a quarterback who plays well right away.
How New York’s Trade Impacts Bills
The trade involving Gardner has a considerable impact on the Bills, especially since they face the Jets twice each season and may potentially encounter the Colts in the playoffs. Buffalo has historically managed to defeat New York consistently since drafting Josh Allen in 2018. With Gardner now off the roster, the Bills will likely have an even greater opportunity to secure victories against the Jets in the years to come.
Now, let’s get to the Colts’ side of the trade and what that means for Buffalo moving forward.
The Colts are currently enjoying a strong season with a 7-2 record, positioning themselves as favorites to clinch the AFC South title. It appears that Indianapolis and Buffalo might face off in the postseason, which could pose significant challenges for the Bills.
The Bills are currently experiencing difficulties in their receiving game, as they haven’t been getting much production from their receiving room. Pro Football Focus ranks the Bills’ receiving corps 17th through the first nine weeks of the season.
Now that the Colts are adding star corner Gardner, he could help shut down the Bills’ receiving core in the playoffs, which could lead Buffalo to missing out on making the Super Bowl.
The Bills might need to counter the move the Colts made by trading for a star receiver at the trade deadline.
It’s likely going to be a tricky situation since both the Jets and the Bills are in the same division, but if New York continues to part ways with some star players and focuses on rebuilding for the future, trading wide receiver Garrett Wilson could be a possibility.
To land Wilson, Buffalo would need to put together a significant trade package. However, with the Bills running out of opportunities to make a Super Bowl run, Wilson might just be the player who could push them over the top.
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