Is Adonai Mitchell good? What to know about new Jets WR acquired in Sauce Gardner trade

The New York Jets stunned the NFL world on Tuesday, accepting the Indianapolis Colts’ offer for star cornerback Sauce Gardner amid another lost season. Aaron Glenn’s unit opened the year with a rough 1-7 stretch before sending out its top defensive player for multiple first-round picks.

It wasn’t just those valuable draft selections that the Jets landed in the blockbuster trade, though. Indianapolis also sent young wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who now joins the Jets in the second year of his career.

The 2025 season won’t bring a realistic playoff push for the Jets, but Mitchell could blossom into a productive wideout over the remainder of the year and establish himself as a piece of the team’s future.

Here’s a breakdown of Mitchell’s talents and everything to know about the Jets’ newest receiver.

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Is Adonai Mitchell good?

If Mitchell is one thing, it’s unproven. He’s only in his second year after being selected 52nd overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Colts drafted Mitchell with hopes that he could become a key weapon in their offense’s future, especially with young quarterback Anthony Richardson still ironing out his own issues. As recently as the 2024 season, Indianapolis appeared headed toward a rebuild — meaning players like Richardson and Mitchell would have room to develop without much expectation of a playoff run.

The 2025 season has flipped everything for the Colts. After signing Daniel Jones in free agency and adding tight end Tyler Warren in the draft, the team has clicked on almost every level, emerging as one of the AFC’s true contenders at the halfway point. That success has come behind a strong run game with Jonathan Taylor, defensive improvements, and Jones excelling with Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and Warren as his top targets.

But that success also meant less room for Richardson or Mitchell to grow. Richardson has fallen out of favor as Jones’ backup, while Mitchell slipped down the wide receiver depth chart. Pittman, Pierce and Joshua Downs are all more proven and reliable, not to mention Taylor and Warren serving as two centerpieces of the Colts’ 2025 offense.

All of that is to say: there’s likely some untapped potential in Mitchell — potential the Jets will try to unlock as they enter a clear rebuilding phase. In his final collegiate season, Mitchell posted 845 yards and 11 touchdowns for Texas in 2023. He has plus speed and athleticism and is a strong route-runner. He just hasn’t had much opportunity in Indianapolis so far, totaling 312 receiving yards in his rookie season.

Mitchell's status on the Colts only declined more when he made a costly error earlier this season against the Rams, losing the football while celebrating just as he was about to cross the goal line for a touchdown following a nice play.

That would have been Mitchell's first career touchdown — and watching the first few seconds of the play, he displayed the playmaking ability that made him a second-round pick. That's what the Jets are hoping they can get out of the receiver.

He's young and hasn't yet taken the leap toward reliability the Colts had hoped, but Mitchell's talents should be much more attainable in New York as the Jets trend toward the AFC cellar once again in 2025.

#Jets are getting lots of upside in Adonai Mitchell pic.twitter.com/Su1Oj6dX6f

MORE: Why did the Jets trade Sauce Gardner?

Jets WR depth chart

The Jets came into the 2025 season without many passing weapons around star receiver Garrett Wilson, and that has not changed. Running the football has been New York's identity with a mobile quarterback in Justin Fields. Wilson remains the top target in the offense, but there is still plenty of room for Mitchell to immediately start getting targets with the Jets.

Tight end Mason Taylor is becoming another good weapon, but New York doesn't have a bonafide WR2 behind Wilson. Tyler Johnson has the second-most receiving yards for a wideout with 187, while veteran Josh Reynolds follows with 101. 

Mitchell can very easily become one of Fields' top receivers through the rest of the lost 2025 season and give the Jets a player to rely on through the air. If he can get closer to his ceiling he displayed in college, Mitchell would make for a great route-runner and speedy weapon alongside Wilson.

MORE: Grading the Sauce Gardner trade

Adonai Mitchell Madden rating

Adonai Mitchell age

Mitchell is 23 years old. He won't turn 24 until Oct. 8, 2026. 

MORE: A look at the Jets' draft capital after Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams deals

Adonai Mitchell contract

Adonai Mitchell stats

Here's a look at Adonai Mitchell's numbers in his two NFL seasons.