"Teams don’t trade second-round picks for nothing": Anonymous NFL GM warns Jets about Adonai Mitchell's inclusion in Sauce Gardner trade

The New York Jets completed two blockbuster trades at Tuesday's deadline, one of them sending All-Pro/Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks. However, an anonymous general manager in the league has reservations about the sense behind the trade.

On Friday's episode of Jets Mailbag, SNY's Connor Hughes recalled:

"He texted me, ‘Connor, I have done a lot of homework on him. Teams don’t trade second-round picks for nothing that were drafted a year ago. Not when they’re under team control, not when they have talent. He goes, ‘If they’re giving up on him already, there is probably a reason for that.'"

According to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, Jets general manager Darren Mougey had insisted on adding Mitchell to the trade package, ostensibly against the wishes of his Colts counterpart Chris Ballard.

That notion was backed up by Jake Arthur, co-host of the "Locked On Colts Podcast", who told Heavy.com's Joe Esden about a conversation he had with wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne:

“He definitely did not want to lose AD Mitchell. But I think the Colts have liked Sauce Gardner since he came into the league and saw an opportunity to add him. If the whole thing was going to hinge on whether or not they added AD Mitchell into it, well, we have a guy who is maybe getting five snaps a game versus someone who could maybe get us to a Super Bowl.”

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Jets will not let deadline trades affect HC Aaron Glenn's future

Sauce Gardner was not the only ex-Jet to trade green for blue on Tuesday, however. Also that same day, defensive tackle and fellow All-Pro/Pro Bowler Quinnen Williams went to the Dallas Cowboys for Mazi Smith and a pair of draft picks.

These moves comprise difficult decisions for a franchise that is already mired at the bottom of the AFC at 1-7. However, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that they will not affect head coach Aaron Glenn's job security:

"With quarterback issues and a young team in transition that got even younger this week, there are many factors at play. There appears to be an understanding of where this team is, talent-wise, and how much it needs."

The Jets return from their bye week on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Kickoff is at 1 pm ET on CBS.