Adonai Mitchell reveals miracle behind midseason Jets trade

The trade couldn't have come at a better time for AD.

Charlie Baduini

New York Jets wide receiver Adonai Mitchell / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Jets' wide receiver room was an unmitigated disaster in 2025. Outside of Garrett Wilson, the team went into the season with Josh Reynolds, Allen Lazard, and Tyler Johnson as the top targets behind their star wideout.

It went about just as badly as you would expect. Wilson hurt his knee in Week 6 and wouldn't catch another pass for the rest of the season. Despite that, he still ended up leading the team in receiving yards with 395.

At the midseason trade deadline, Darren Mougey did his best to rectify his mistake by acquiring wide receivers as ancillary additions in deals, such as the Philadelphia Eagles' John Metchie, and of course, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Mitchell was a non-negotiable in trade talks between the Jets and the Colts, and for good reason. The former second-round pick has a lot of talent, but was stuck in a loaded wide receiver room behind players like Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce.

In New York, he had the opportunity to serve as the team's No. 1 target, and he couldn't be happier about how the change of scenery turned out.

Adonai Mitchell couldn't be happier with midseason Jets trade

In an appearance on the Downs 2 Business podcast, Mitchell told his former Colts teammate what it was like getting traded, and what the opportunity with the Jets means for him and his career.

"Bro, I feel like that was the reset that I needed. Like, I mean, obviously, you know, Indy's receiver room was crowded. So, just getting that fresh start, I feel like that was the best thing for my career. Just getting in the building, bro. Like, they were just happy that I was there. I was happy to be part of it."
Adonai Mitchell

In eight games with the Jets last season, Mitchell capitalized on his opportunity to serve as WR1 in Wilson's stead, hauling in 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns.

Now, he hopes to carry that role into the 2026 season, where he's currently penciled in as the Jets' No. 2 receiver. Even if New York goes out and adds another veteran to the room, it's safe to say Mitchell carved out a role for himself with his steady play.

It's clear that it wouldn't have happened in Indianapolis.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.