The New York Jets had a hectic trade deadline, to put it mildly.
The team traded away two All-Pros and defensive building blocks in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, netting three first-round picks and one second-round pick along with two players.
Included in the package for Gardner was former Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, whom New York acquired alongside two first-round picks in exchange for the All-Pro cornerback.
Where does the 23-year-old Mitchell fit into the Jets’ wide receiver room?
Here’s an in-depth look at Mitchell’s player profile and the impact that his addition has on the Jets’ offense.
New York Jets WR Adonai Mitchell
Background
A three-star recruit hailing from Ridge Point High School in Missouri City, Texas, Mitchell kick-started his college career at the University of Georgia.
He played a pivotal role in Georgia’s 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship win, hauling in the go-ahead 40-yard touchdown pass from Stetson Bennett with eight minutes remaining.
Throughout his two seasons as a Bulldog, Mitchell hauled in 38 receptions for 560 yards and seven touchdowns across 21 games.
For his final collegiate season, he transferred to Texas, where he logged 845 yards and 11 touchdowns on 55 receptions.
Entering the 2024 NFL draft, Mitchell earned a stellar 9.98 RAS (Relative Athletic Score), which placed him eighth among over 3,000 wide receivers in combine history.
He also clocked a high-impressive 4.34 forty-yard dash, while standing at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds.
His 39.5-inch vertical and 136-inch broad jump were also considered elite.
According to NFL Mock Draft Database, Mitchell was the consensus No. 30 overall prospect entering the draft. He would slip out of the first round and land with the Indianapolis Colts at the No. 52 overall selection.
The Texas product turned 23 years old in October.
Rookie season
Mitchell’s first year in the league was far from an ideal situation for a rookie wideout. He spent most of it catching passes from Anthony Richardson, who struggled mightily with accuracy, completing under 48% of his throws. For a young receiver trying to find his rhythm, that’s a tough hand to be dealt.
On the surface, Mitchell’s rookie-year production hardly stands out. In 17 games (seven starts), he caught 23 of his 55 targets for 312 yards and no touchdowns, while rushing four times for only six yards.
When you dig deeper into the numbers, Mitchell’s talent pops. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked among the league’s best wide receivers at creating separation: second-best on vertical routes and third-best on in-breaking patterns.
The problem was that the ball just didn’t find him often enough.
Some of Mitchell’s lackluster rookie-year production falls on Richardson’s inconsistencies, but much of it falls on Mitchell, too. He had four drops, failed to haul in any of his five contested targets, and had a pair of fumbles.
But the flashes were there. The rookie’s burst and route craft hinted at real upside, the kind that makes coaches believe they can build something special.
2025 season thus far
Through nine weeks this season, Mitchell has reeled in nine of his 15 targets for 152 yards.
It’s a very small sample, but he has begun to show growth in two areas he struggled with during his rookie season: catching jump balls and drops. This year, Mitchell has caught both contested balls thrown in his direction, while not yet recording a drop.
The former Georgia standout opened the season as a key piece of Indianapolis’ passing game. Through Week 4, Mitchell had caught seven of his 12 targets for 137 yards in a complementary role. However, his involvement quickly diminished after a costly mistake, one that Jets fans will find all too familiar.
On what should have been a 76-yard touchdown in Week 4, Mitchell let go of the ball just before crossing the goal line, erasing a highlight-reel moment. It was a game-changing play in a contest that Indianapolis went on to lose by seven points.
Following that mistake, Mitchell played only 24 snaps over the team’s next five games and was targeted four times, catching two passes for 15 yards.
Impact on the Jets
Overall, this is an excellent addition for the Jets.
Mitchell has already shown glimpses of what he can be: a smooth vertical threat with the speed to stretch defenses and the body control to win downfield. Now, joining a Jets receiver group that’s struggled to find consistency behind Garrett Wilson, Mitchell walks into a golden opportunity to carve out a significant role.
For general manager Darren Mougey, it’s a calculated swing on upside.
Mitchell’s still just scratching the surface of what he can become. As he receives a fresh start in a new setting, the Jets have a prime opportunity to unlock his full potential.
Under team control through 2027, Mitchell has a chance to become an elite playmaker in New York for years to come.
