Pat McAfee didn’t hold back on one of the most talked-about moves of the week. He set his sights on Sauce Gardner after the blockbuster Colts trade. The former punter turned media powerhouse wasted no time calling out the star corner, sending a clear message that Indianapolis isn’t backing down. McAfee’s fiery reaction lit up social media as the Indianapolis Colts signaled to recover from their second loss of the season to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Welcome to the team @iamSauceGardner Let’s go win a Super Bowl,” McAfee wrote on X.

The trade of Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts changes the narrative for both parties. Gardner arrives from the New York Jets, who are 1-7 and were never true Super Bowl contenders. But that’s not the case for Gardner; he has much more to offer and enters the Colts locker room with elite credentials. 

Drafted 4th overall in 2022, Sauce Gardner earned Defensive Rookie of the Year and back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections in 2022 and 2023. During his time at the Jets, he recorded 143 solo tackles, 58 assists, 1 sack, and 3 interceptions. He towers at 6’3”, 190 lbs, and has the length, speed, and coverage instincts to match top receivers one-on-one.  

The Colts get Gardner at the league minimum for the rest of the season, with a salary of $25.5 million in 2026, $24.95 million in 2027, and $20.2 million in 2028.

For the Colts, Sauce Gardner’s arrival comes at a perfect time. Indianapolis is currently 7-2 and sitting atop the AFC South. The franchise is considered one of the most dangerous offenses this season. They averaged more than 32.2 points per game and scored on roughly 50% of their possessions, leading the league. The Colts also became the first team in NFL history to score on their first 10 offensive possessions to start a season across the first two games. 

“I think if you take away the takeaways and we don’t turn the ball over, I think we’re moving the ball down the field, scoring a lot of points again. So, I’ve got a ton of faith in our offense,” head coach Shane Steichen said after the Steelers game.

Yet the Colts still carried defensive vulnerabilities, namely in pass coverage and ball security on offense when pressured. In their recent 27-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis committed six turnovers and allowed five sacks. In a similar fashion, they had three turnovers for the 27-20 Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. 

Sauce Gardner upgrades the cornerback position, where the defense has failed to contain multiple key targets. He tightens the secondary and allows defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo to deploy fewer blitzes and more balanced coverage. With Gardner locking down one side, the Colts are now far better equipped to turn their offensive dominance into a full-blown Super Bowl run.

Beyond Sauce Gardner, the Colts address defensive urgency and offensive faith

In the Colts’ 27-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, apart from turnovers, they also committed three interceptions and two fumbles, which resulted in surrendering 24 points. 

“To turn it over as many times as we did today, we’re going to have a tough time winning. Obviously, that’s on me,” quarterback Daniel Jones said.

The two losses on the Colts’ sheet are a result of turnovers and inadequate coverage when big plays fail. Jones had five turnovers, the most committed in a single game by a Colts player since Peyton Manning threw a career-high six interceptions in a 2007 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jones also had three interceptions and was sacked 5 times, dropping his QBR to 13.0 against the Steelers. The Colts’ defense allowed the Steelers to set the tempo, which exposed their weaknesses during the game.

According to NextGenStats, Sauce Gardner hasn’t allowed more than two catches to any single receiver in a game this season. He’s also tightened the window on 52% of his targets, ranking the highest among all players who’ve been targeted. With Gardner in the lineup, the Colts can reduce risky blitz packages and rely more on sound coverage.

“We’ve got to give [Jones] time. The [offensive] line, running backs, we’ve got to be in the right spots as far as routes and being in our areas. It’s the entire offense. It’s a cumulative thing. We have to be better with the football,” running back Jonathan Taylor said after the game.

Sauce Gardner adds a proven shutdown corner to a unit that struggled when opponents attacked downfield. Gardner’s presence tightens the secondary and gives the defensive staff more flexibility to mask other vulnerabilities. 

The timing aligns just before the Colts’ bye week after they go against the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin, giving Gardner a chance to adapt. They return to face the Kansas City Chiefs with a revamped defense in place that improves coverage and reduces giveaways, enhancing their Super Bowl prospects.