The New York Jets got a trade in after the buzzer to beat the Tuesday, November 4, NFL trade deadline.
Gang Green announced on social media that they have acquired cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for “a conditional 2028 seventh-round pick, pending physical.”
More Info on the Jets’ Newest Addition
Taylor, 26, entered the NFL as the No. 214 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
He has appeared in 57 games in his career and has made 11 starts. Taylor has recorded an interception, 14 pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and has totaled 84 tackles.
The former Demon Deacons product has played 1,061 career snaps on defense and 872 career snaps on special teams, per Pro Football Reference.
He is listed at 5-foot-11 and weighs 186 pounds. Taylor is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
“Prior to the pros, he spent 5 seasons at Wake Forest and appeared in 62 games. He totaled 8 interceptions, 1 pick-six, and 6 sacks in his final 3 seasons with the Demon Deacons,” Jets digital media assistant John Pullano wrote in a press release.
Sauce Gardner Being Traded Away Leaves a Massive Void in the Secondary
You can not just replace Sauce Gardner and what he brought to the table.
Gardner was a former two-time first-team All-Pro. He was the highest-paid cornerback in football.
The Jets will have to employ a cornerback by committee approach to try and replace the top-flight defensive back.
“Sauce Gardner has been CB1 since entering the league 🔒,” Pro Football Focus posted on social media.
Gardner’s 90.8 PFF grade, 50.3% completion rate allowed, and 49 forced incompletions all rank No. 1 among cornerbacks since he entered the league.
The Indianapolis Colts announced on their website that Gardner will continue to wear jersey No. 1 in the blue and white.
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner will wear No. 1 for the Colts, while wide receiver Josh Downs will switch from No. 1 to No. 2 beginning with this weekend’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin,” JJ Stankevitz wrote.
Gardner’s Agent Sheds More Light on What Went Down
ESPN’s Rich Cimini spoke to Gardner’s agent and brother, Allante Gardner, after the trade.
Allante told Cimini that Sauce was “stunned by the trade.” His agent “learned of the deal around 12:15 [pm] in a call from the Jets. They had no inkling before that, he said. Sauce has no negative feelings toward the Jets; he understands it’s a business, Allante said. Sauce did get a call from Aaron Glenn.”
The New Look Secondary for the Jets Moving Forward
Jarvis Brownlee Jr replaced Michael Carter II in the slot. Brandon Stephens will maintain the starting gig he has had since signing with the Jets. While rookie Azareye’h Thomas has the unenviable task of filling the void of Gardner’s starting gig.
This season is no longer about the playoffs for the 1-7 Jets. It’s all about evaluation mode.
Thomas has a chance to prove the Jets’ decision makers right. The former Florida State product was a projected first-round pick at one point during the pre-draft process. However, he stumbled down draft boards after a slow 40-yard dash time.
The Jets stole Thomas with the No. 73 overall pick in the third round. If he can become a serviceable starter, that is a massive win for the Jets.
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