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The Indianapolis Colts' move was equally startling. With this trade, they signaled their intention to contend seriously, asserting they are a Super Bowl-caliber team. The Colts gave up two first-round picks and cornerback Mitchell in exchange for Gardner. They openly declared their belief that this aggressive move would catapult them into serious championship contention.
This trade marked a strategic reset for the Colts, something reminiscent of the Andrew Luck glory days when they consistently made playoff runs. The team’s front office, led by Chris Ballard, evidently believes their current roster, supplemented with Gardner's elite talent, is good enough to challenge the best. Their confidence in their future plans was evident, making this move seem like a declaration of intent.