What are Jets planning for new WRs? OC speaks out

Going into the start of the 2025 regular season, the New York Jets had a clear need at wide receiver.

Garrett Wilson has been a star since his selection in the 2022 draft, but questions lingered about who could consistently line up opposite him. Those concerns have proven valid through New York’s 1-7 start. Outside of Wilson, no Jets receiver has recorded more than 12 catches or 200 yards through eight games.

The position group, however, received a boost at the trade deadline. The Jets added former second-round picks AD Mitchell and John Metchie III — two young wideouts looking for a fresh start.

And no one seems more eager to see what they can do than offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

Jets welcome new receivers

Through the first two months of the season, Engstrand has been coaching at a disadvantage. The team’s running game remains among the best in football, but inconsistencies at quarterback and receiver have capped the offense’s potential.

While those quarterback issues weren’t solved at the deadline, the additions of Mitchell and Metchie give the offense new options — and both players arrive with something to prove.

Mitchell, 23, comes from the Indianapolis Colts, where he caught 32 passes for 464 yards over two seasons but failed to score a touchdown. He’s best remembered for an infamous 75-yard catch that ended in a fumble before the goal line — a play that led to his falling out of favor in Indianapolis.

Now, he’ll try to rebuild his reputation in New York.

“[We] really like his (Mitchell) size, his speed, and his physical traits,” Engstrand said. “Even going back to college, I know he was at Texas and Georgia, and he did a lot of good things. I remember looking at him coming out and being high on him as well. So, I really like his skill set.”

Mitchell offers intriguing physical tools: a 6-foot-2 frame, long stride, and vertical ability that fit the “X” receiver profile. If the Jets can find a way to integrate him into their scheme, he could be a valuable downfield option opposite Wilson.

Metchie’s path, meanwhile, has been far more complicated.

A 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama, Metchie missed his rookie season while recovering from leukemia. Since returning, he’s totaled 44 receptions, 430 yards, and one touchdown across stints with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles.

Those numbers came in crowded receiving rooms. The Jets, on the other hand, give him a chance to carve out a larger role.

“Just going back a few years and watching the tape, he’s a versatile player with a lot of traits you really like,” Engstrand said. “He’s reliable, can get in and out of breaks, and has good speed. He can fit into several different spots on the roster. We’re really excited about those guys.”

Both receivers bring untapped potential, and both will have the opportunity to show it over the final nine games of the regular season. If either one establishes chemistry with New York’s quarterbacks, it could reshape the offense beyond 2025.

Building for the future

The trades that brought Mitchell and Metchie to New York were part of a larger overhaul that sent All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner, All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and slot cornerback Michael Carter II elsewhere. In return, the Jets added three first-round picks, a second-rounder, and several young players — including the new receivers.

The moves stripped away two of the team’s best defensive stars but gave the front office the draft capital and salary-cap flexibility to reshape the roster.

At the center of that rebuild lies the quarterback position.

The combination of Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor hasn’t been enough to keep the offense competitive, despite Engstrand’s ability to scheme open receivers. With the team’s struggles likely leading to a high draft pick, the Jets should be positioned to find their next franchise quarterback in 2026, whether that’s through the draft or a veteran acquisition.

Quarterback prospects such as Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or Alabama’s Ty Simpson are expected to headline that class, though New York could also use its surplus of draft picks to trade for an established veteran.

Whatever route they take, the front office knows that any future quarterback will need reliable weapons around him. That’s where Mitchell and Metchie come in.

Both are former top college prospects who haven’t yet had a chance to fully showcase their potential. Mitchell offers a prototypical deep threat to pair with Wilson’s route-running precision. Metchie brings versatility and quickness to work in the slot or as a complementary flanker.

If either player can emerge as a consistent target, the Jets’ offensive identity could finally start to take shape, giving Engstrand and head coach Aaron Glenn something to build upon heading into next season.

A chance to change the narrative

The Jets’ offense has long been defined by what it lacks: a steady quarterback, consistent receiver depth, and sustained scoring ability.

Mitchell and Metchie won’t fix all of that overnight. But in a season defined by transition, they represent something the Jets have been missing — upside and opportunity.

For Engstrand, that’s reason enough to be optimistic.

“Both those guys bring something we can really work with,” he said. “They’re hungry, and they’ve got the tools to help us get better.”

The Jets will spend the rest of the 2025 season searching for answers. But if either of their new receivers proves to be part of the solution, New York’s rebuild may already be ahead of schedule.