The Herd with Colin Cowherd: 3 & Out - TRADE DEADLINE: Jets trade Gardner to Colts, Williams to Cowboys

Date: November 5, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff (The Volume, The Herd feed)

Episode Overview

This packed episode, hosted by John Middlekauff, dives deep into the 2025 NFL trade deadline—a historic day that saw bold moves by the Jets, Colts, Cowboys, and Seahawks. Middlekauff analyzes the biggest trades—Sauce Gardner to the Colts, Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys—and provides candid, insightful perspectives on team strategies, GM philosophies, player values, and league trends. Mailbag questions round out the episode, covering quarterback evaluations, coaching futures, and more.

Trade Deadline Trends: NFL Catching Up to NBA & MLB

Timestamp: 08:20 – 12:10

• The NFL trade deadline is now "fun, not just a snoozer," with a record number of moves mirroring more active NBA/MLB trade seasons.
• Modern GMs are bolder; owners are giving the green light because of "league money pouring in."
• "We have a lot more younger, aggressive GMs... Owners are willing, coaches are on board. We have much more activity."
  — John Middlekauff (08:40)
• Football’s historical scheme/fit complexity kept deadline trades rare, but similar schemes and league evolution have changed that.
• “Historically this day can be a little boring and that no longer is the case. And honestly the lead up to this day is fun.”
  — John Middlekauff (10:34)
• Record context: 2022 saw 10 deadline trades, 2024 had 8, and seven happened in 2025 by the end of the deadline.

New York Jets: Total Rebuild & The Nuclear Option

Timestamp: 12:15 – 24:50

• The Jets “hit the nuclear option,” trading stars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. They are “worse next year than they are this year… it’s going to be even uglier.”
• Jets received three first-round picks, a second, a DT from Dallas, and Adonai Mitchell for Gardner.
• Middlekauff supports the logic: “What’s the point in keeping players that have a lot of value when you’re losing year after year with those players?” (13:40)
• The move mirrors the Miami Dolphins' full tear-down, with questions on whether the head coach (Aaron Glenn) gets enough runway to survive the lean years.
• “The worst word in sports… is when fans become apathetic. It’s a problem.”
  — John Middlekauff (19:58)
• GMs and owners sync on big-picture strategy, but coaches are judged on wins/losses and rarely survive multiyear tanks.
• “They’re a year away from being a year away from maybe being another year away. It's just a lot of like, hey, hope, keep your fingers crossed. Oh, yeah, we're the Jets, so it's probably not going to work out…" (21:05)
• AFC East impact: Bills & Patriots can ignore Jets for now; Dolphins are “in shambles.”

Colts’ Gamble: The High Price for Sauce Gardner

Timestamp: 24:51 – 38:50

• Colts pay a steep price—two 1sts, player assets—for Gardner. Middlekauff is critical:
  “That’s insane. That was my first reaction. I don’t agree, I think it’s too much.” (25:05)
• GM Chris Ballard, on the hot seat, makes a legacy-defining gamble.
• Middlekauff questions Sauce Gardner’s upside compared to other elite CBs: “If they ever start calling Sauce Gardner for pass interference, we’re going to have problems.” (28:39)
• Contract structure makes trade doable; Gardner’s cap hit jumps to $25 million/year soon.
• Comparison to Jalen Ramsey and other true elites:
  “Jalen’s an elite athlete. He’s a physical player. He’s got good ball skills. Like, he’s just dramatically better than Sauce.” (31:20)
• Critiques trade philosophy for corners: unless it's a Revis/Sherman type in their prime, “I’m not into going two ones for corners.”
• “If I’m the Jets, I get two ones and Adonai Mitchell for that… That’ll be one of the easiest trades an NFL team has ever made.” (36:22)

Cowboys Add Quinnen Williams: A Calculated Win

Timestamp: 39:01 – 44:12

• Jerry Jones swings for DT Quinnen Williams (for a 2nd and a future 1st).
  “Having Quinnen Williams on your team... you're not getting anyone in the second round that is going to be as good as Quinnen Williams in 2026.” (41:23)
• Cowboys keep two 1st-round picks for 2026; the move sets up for a reset and a stronger 2026 playoff bid.
• Dallas maintains flexibility to bolster their defensive unit further; draft capital will be crucial, especially for immediate defensive improvements.

Seahawks’ Quietly Savvy Move: Shahid Deep Threat

Timestamp: 44:16 – 48:57

• Seattle acquires speedy WR Rashid Shahid from the Saints for mid-round picks.
• Middlekauff likes the value:
  “When you already have the infrastructure… for a fourth and a fifth round pick, [Shahid] could realistically give you 35–40 catches and 3–4 TDs.” (48:22)
• Seahawks positioned as NFC contenders: “If Seattle wins this week, they're 7-2… they are in very, very good position to make a legit run.” (46:48)

Value of Draft Capital vs. Elite Players

Timestamp: 49:19 – 56:12

• Discussion on the scarcity of RB trades: teams won’t offer much unless it’s a superstar. “I’ll take a guy from someone’s practice squad before I do that.” (49:37)
• NFL trades are more complex than NBA/MLB—salary cap, guaranteed money, and contract mechanics all complicate deals.

The YouTube TV vs. Disney Standoff (Media Rights)

Timestamp: 56:45 – 01:01:37

• Middlekauff touches on the ongoing business standoff between YouTube TV (Google) and Disney (ESPN rights).
• “Google is so much bigger than Disney… they don’t need to say yes to anything Disney wants.” (57:21)
• Disney wants to push a higher price for content, but Google has leverage; fans are at risk of losing ESPN on YouTube TV.
• “I just want to be able to turn on my television on Monday night and have ESPN on YouTube TV… I don’t care who's got the leverage here, but… I don't think this is going to change anytime soon.” (01:00:30)

Mailbag Highlights

Timestamp: 01:08:56 – End

How the Trade Deadline Works

• Modern deals are all cell phone-driven; the key is getting the trade paperwork to the league office before the deadline.

Joe Flacco Career Arc

• If Flacco had better offensive structure/weapons in Baltimore, he might have had a more explosive career:
  “If Flacco at 28 years old was on a team with some star wide receivers, it probably would have been a more explosive experience for sure.” (01:11:13)

Pressure on Jets’ Head Coach

• Middlekauff reiterates the huge pressure on Aaron Glenn:
  “Is the coach who is judged on wins and losses going to be able to survive several years of not winning when the franchise has already been not winning for a long time?” (01:13:09)
• Asserts coaches rarely survive long rebuilds, regardless of front office promises.

Kyler Murray’s Future

• With massive cap hits looming, Kyler’s trade value is nil: “If Kyler Murray was a free agent at the end of this year, does he get a multi year deal? I doubt it.” (01:21:05)
• Jacoby Brissett is praised for stabilizing Arizona’s offense and unlocking Marvin Harrison Jr.—something Murray could not do.

Bo Nix MVP Candidacy

• Asked why Bo Nix isn’t in MVP talks, Middlekauff bluntly responds:
  “The eye test has been atrocious. He has had games where he's borderline unplayable for quarters on end… You can't win the MVP when you play like shit throughout a lot of games.” (01:25:40)

Giants' Next Coaching Move

• New York is a tough market for rookie coaches; best fit would be a proven, hard-nosed retread like Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh if available.

Is Sauce Worth Two Firsts?

• “Two ones is like for Khalil Mack and Jalen Ramsey… For Sauce Gardner? That’s just not the player you’re getting.” (01:33:05)
• Elite corners (Patrick Surtain) are simply not available at any price, and if so, would command even more.

Play-calling Head Coaches vs. CEO Types

• “I just think you can get away from you fast when you really, really suck—especially when you've never done it like Mike Vrabel… I want my coach to be a leader and call the plays. Unless you're Nick Saban or Bill Belichick, I need you on a headset, dialing stuff up.” (01:45:20)
• Ben Johnson praised for culture-building combined with play-calling; warns against head coaches giving up their area of expertise.

Notable Quotes

• "They're a year away from being a year away from maybe being another year away." – John Middlekauff on the Jets’ long rebuild (21:05)
• "If I'm the Jets, I get two ones and Adonai Mitchell for that—easiest trade the New York Jets will ever make." (36:22)
• "If you're gonna pay premiums, you gotta get a premium. Sauce Gardner simply is not one of the best corners in the league." (34:15)
• "If Flacco at 28 years old was on a team with some star wide receivers, it probably would have been a more explosive experience for sure." (01:11:13)
• "I want my coach to be a leader and call the plays… I need you on a headset, dialing stuff up. Especially when you're good at it." (01:45:20)
• "You can't win the MVP when you play like shit throughout a lot of games." – On Bo Nix (01:25:40)

Key Takeaways & Final Thoughts

• Trade Deadline Fun: NFL’s midseason chaos rivals other leagues—aggressive GMs, big money, and high-stakes gambles.
• Jets' Gamble: Embracing a multi-year tank, with the risk of losing both fan interest and head coaching continuity.
• Colts Critique: Ballard bets the farm on Sauce Gardner—a move Middlekauff doubts is worth it unless the CB becomes truly elite.
• Cowboys & Seahawks: Wise strategic moves; Cowboys plan for a 2026 resurgence, Seahawks quietly strengthen their balanced roster.
• Coach Survival: NFL head coaches almost never survive a true tank, regardless of loyalty or vision—especially in high-pressure markets.
• NFL Business: Player value, contracts, and TV/media rights are more complex than ever—owners, GMs, and coaches must all play 4D chess.

This summary captures the episode’s core arguments, color, and context, and is formatted for quick reference by anyone seeking to understand the NFL trade deadline’s impact and evolving league dynamics.