Making the Jets’ decision to trade cornerback Sauce Gardner even more stunning is the decision they made in the offseason to extend him.

In June, the Jets signed Gardner to a four-year extension with a new-money average of $30.1 million per year. It made him the highest-paid player at his position, by $100,000 annually.

But the deal carried only a $13.75 million signing bonus and a salary of $1.25 million in 2025. They’ve paid him $14.375 million; the Colts will pick up the balance of the deal — starting with $25.5 million in 2026.

The cap charges aren’t excessive. Because the trade happened after June 1, there’s no additional 2025 charge. In 2026, they’ll carry the $2.75 million allocation that was already on the books, plus another $8.25 million in acceleration.

And so the Jets dump the contract, absorb a relatively small cap hit, and pick up two first-round selection and receiver AD Mitchell.