Adonai Mitchell heard his name called by the New York Jets when they traded Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts to acquire a second-round pick. It’s been a brutal start for him and his new squad. Despite a very encouraging first game, in which he flashed a ton of promise, his playing time has plummeted in the subsequent games. This decline raises questions about his future contributions to the Jets as they look to solidify their roster for the second half of the season.
Mitchell’s path to the Jets began with his draft day/free agent sign with the Colts. They made him their selection in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. General manager Joe Douglas was thrilled with the pick. He explained that the Jets were interested in Mitchell even before the draft pick. After arriving on the Jets, he’s struggled with consistency. In his debut with New York, he tapped into just how rare his physical gifts are. Standing at 6-foot-2 and blazing a 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash, he was hard to miss. His outstanding performance in TSF has not shown up in productivity on the field.
By far the biggest problem plaguing Mitchell’s game has been his drop rate. During his time with the Colts, he only had three drops on 70 targets. And that trend continued with the Jets. He sucks out two drops in Sunday’s matchup, one of those being a deep shot missed that was easily 40 yards gained against Christian Gonzalez. These missed opportunities expose a major flaw in his game. He must fix this area of concern if he plans on becoming a reliable, productive asset to the Jets.
Just a few weeks into the 2023 season, it’s time to admit Mitchell’s rosy outlook has collapsed. He’s only averaging 2.4 receptions per game, a career low. This alarming statistic should alarm any player and coach alike. They’re clearly hell-bent on getting him incorporated into their offensive salt shakers. The Jets’ general manager Darren Mougey expressed enthusiasm about having Mitchell included in the Gardner blockbuster trade, emphasizing his belief in Mitchell’s potential to contribute to the team’s success.
“It’s important for us to focus on our practice routines and execution,” said Jarvis Brownlee Jr., reflecting on the team’s overall performance. He took personal accountability on that front after a recent game with the Patriots in which he was called for three.
“We gotta come in, Monday through Friday. We’re out there at practice, we’re in the building, we’re in the facility. We can’t come into the game and s
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