Jets quietly stole Adonai Mitchell from another team at the trade deadline

The New York Jets’ trade deadline headlines were dominated by the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades. But buried beneath the blockbuster was a quieter pickup, one that could pay dividends for years.

The Jets acquired former Indianapolis Colts second-round pick Adonai Mitchell in the Gardner trade with the hope that he can provide life to a stagnant passing attack. And as it turns out, they weren't the only team interested.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that the Cleveland Browns were also eyeing Mitchell in a separate deal before the Jets swooped in and landed him last Tuesday.

Rapoport said that the Browns "planned to complete a trade for Mitchell" that would've seen the team send a late-round pick to Indianapolis in exchange for the former Texas wideout. Instead, the Jets insisted that he be included in the Gardner trade, and the Colts acquiesced.

Jets weren't alone in their pursuit of Adonai Mitchell

A second-round pick of the Colts in the 2024 NFL Draft, Mitchell, hadn’t produced much in Indianapolis this season, hauling in just nine catches for 152 yards in 2025. But his blend of size, speed, and vertical burst made him a coveted target for receiver-needy teams.

Mitchell landed in his previous staff’s doghouse after a Week 4 blunder against the Rams, when he let go of the ball inches before the goal line on a long reception, and it rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. He later had a holding penalty that erased a Jonathan Taylor touchdown in the same game.

Still, the Jets remain high on his talent. It's a low-risk swing on a player who still carries legitimate high-upside traits. They’ve spent the fall reshaping their wide receiver room on the fly, trading for John Metchie from the Eagles just days before the Gardner deal.

It's a wide receiver room that also features veteran Tyler Johnson and rookie Arian Smith playing major snaps behind Garrett Wilson. With Allen Lazard a healthy scratch and Josh Reynolds on injured reserve, the Jets are starving for young playmakers who can grow into roles rather than be forced into them.

Mitchell fits that vision perfectly. He’s raw, but he’s explosive, and at just 23 years old, he offers something this roster sorely needs — hope for the future. Maybe he’ll become more than a rotational piece, maybe not.

But the Jets clearly had a strong conviction in Mitchell, and they weren't alone.