Indianapolis Colts–New York Jets Trade History

The Colts paid cash for Lloyd Edwards and Bill West on August 4, 1972, then sold both players to Oakland for cash the following day. That rapid resale meant Indianapolis received almost no lasting football contribution from either player. The C grade reflects the limited but recoverable nature of the transaction and supports an Even Trade verdict.

Baltimore acquired defensive tackle Chuck Hinton from the Jets on September 7, 1972 for a 1973 tenth-round choice. Hinton played 13 games and started six for the Colts that season. New York used pick No. 243 on linebacker Joe Carbone, who was released before playing a regular-season game for the Jets. Baltimore therefore received the only meaningful NFL contribution from the exchange.

Baltimore traded defensive lineman Jim Bailey to the New York Jets on January 28, 1975, for a fourth-round selection in that spring’s draft. The Colts used the pick at No. 93 on Paul Linford, who did not produce regular-season value for Baltimore. Bailey, by contrast, appeared in all 14 games for the Jets in 1975 and started eight, giving New York the clearly better immediate return.

Indianapolis acquired defensive back and returner Kirk Springs from the Jets on April 1, 1987 for a conditional 1988 twelfth-round pick. Springs did not make the Colts' regular-season roster and was released in August. Because the trade condition failed, the twelfth-round choice reverted to Indianapolis, leaving the Colts with no regular-season production and the Jets with no lasting draft return.

Indianapolis received Drew Stanton, 2012 7th round pick (214th overall, Tim Fugger), while the Jets received 2012 6th round pick (187th overall, Josh Bush). The hindsight grades are C+ for Indianapolis and B- for the Jets. The verdict is grounded in the actual starts, production, tenure and downstream draft results produced by those assets.

Indianapolis chose Luke Rhodes as its long snapper and dealt Thomas Hennessy to New York for safety Ronald Martin. Martin was waived at final cuts, later returned to the Colts' practice squad and never became a meaningful Indianapolis regular. Hennessy, by contrast, won the Jets' snapping job and remained a fixture for years, turning a fringe-roster exchange into a quietly excellent New York acquisition.

Indianapolis turned the third pick in the 2018 draft into a four-pick package that became Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, additional 2018 draft capital and the 2019 selection used on Rock Ya-Sin. Nelson became one of the league’s defining guards and Smith a long-term starting tackle. New York used No. 3 on Sam Darnold, whose Jets tenure lasted three seasons before he was traded to Carolina.

Indianapolis sent defensive lineman Henry Anderson to the Jets for pick No. 235, then used that seventh-round selection on linebacker Zaire Franklin. Anderson immediately produced seven sacks in New York and earned a multi-year extension, so the Jets received legitimate value. Franklin nevertheless became the superior long-term asset, growing from special-teams contributor into Colts captain, tackle leader and 2024 second-team All-Pro linebacker.

Indianapolis sent cornerback Nate Hairston to New York for a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick. The condition was not satisfied, so the draft choice was never conveyed and the Colts ultimately received no draft asset from the transaction. The New York Jets produced the stronger realized return, supporting the New York Jets Win verdict.

Indianapolis traded cornerback Quincy Wilson to the Jets during the 2020 draft for pick No. 211 and used the selection on Isaiah Rodgers. Wilson produced only a brief Jets tenure, while Rodgers developed into a multi-season contributor in Indianapolis before his later suspension and release. The Colts received substantially more usable football value from the transaction and earn a B- to D+ win.

Indianapolis acquired All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner from the Jets for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Gardner played only three Colts games in 2025 before a calf strain ended his season, while New York used the 2026 choice at No. 16 on tight end Kenyon Sadiq. With the 2027 first still outstanding, the trade remains unfinished.