Sauce Gardner Pushes Colts to Trade for Difference-Making Edge Rusher

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner is lobbying for the team to acquire Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:41pm

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Indianapolis Colts superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner has publicly urged the team to trade for Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, who would provide a much-needed boost to the Colts' edge-rushing unit. Gardner has even joked about "locking" Greenard in his basement until a deal is reached, similar to how he helped the Colts re-sign wide receiver Alec Pierce. The Colts are in need of an elite edge rusher after losing Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam in free agency, and Greenard would fit the bill if the two teams can work out a trade.

Why it matters

The Colts struggled to generate consistent pressure off the edge in 2025, and adding a proven pass-rusher like Greenard could significantly improve their defense. Gardner's public lobbying shows how badly the team needs to upgrade at that position, and a trade for Greenard could pay major dividends if he can return to his 2023-2024 form when he recorded double-digit sacks.

The details

Greenard, a former Louisville and Florida standout, had a down year in 2025 due to a shoulder injury that limited him to 12 games and just 3.0 sacks. However, he still managed to apply 47 quarterback pressures, which ranked 30th out of 115 defensive ends. Greenard is also a capable run defender, making him an excellent all-around edge defender. The Colts don't have a lot of draft capital to offer in a trade, but they could potentially include quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. in a deal to entice the Vikings, who may be interested in developing the young QB as a potential successor to Kyler Murray.

  • On March 11, 2026, the Colts signed wide receiver Alec Pierce to a four-year, $114 million contract after Sauce Gardner publicly lobbied for the team to re-sign him.
  • On March 15, 2026, Sauce Gardner tweeted about his desire for the Colts to acquire Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard, joking about "opening his basement back up" to help make the deal happen.

The players

Sauce Gardner

A superstar cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts who has publicly lobbied the team to make key personnel moves, including re-signing wide receiver Alec Pierce and now pursuing a trade for Vikings pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard.

Jonathan Greenard

A pass-rusher for the Minnesota Vikings who is a potential trade target for the Indianapolis Colts. Greenard is a former Louisville and Florida standout who has recorded double-digit sacks in the past but is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season.

Anthony Richardson Sr.

The Indianapolis Colts' quarterback who could potentially be included in a trade package to the Vikings in order to acquire Jonathan Greenard.

Kyler Murray

The starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, who the team recently signed to a long-term contract.

J.J. McCarthy

The Vikings' 2024 10th-overall draft pick who has struggled mightily in his first two NFL seasons, leading to speculation that the team could be interested in acquiring Anthony Richardson Sr. to compete for the backup quarterback job behind Kyler Murray.

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What they’re saying

“love a good pass rush.. is it time to open my basement back up🤔”

— Sauce Gardner, Indianapolis Colts Cornerback (Twitter)

What’s next

The Colts and Vikings will need to work out the details of a potential trade for Jonathan Greenard, which could involve Indianapolis sending quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. to Minnesota.

The takeaway

Sauce Gardner's public lobbying for the Colts to acquire a difference-making edge rusher like Jonathan Greenard underscores the team's dire need to upgrade their pass-rushing unit. If the Colts can pull off a trade for Greenard, it would provide a major boost to their defense and give them a proven playmaker to pair with their star cornerback.