Baldinger was on New York sports talk station WFAN when the news broke that Gardner had been dealt to the Colts for the two first-round picks over the next two years, plus Mitchell, a big and speedy wide receiver. Then the news of the Williams trade landed a bit later.
“I was just thinking on my feet, going, it’s good for Indianapolis,” he said. “They really need a star corner, and they could actually have a great defense. But it’s good for the Jets. It’s just good for the Jets. I mean, you acquire those kinds of picks and you free up a lot of money. And look, I believe that [rookie] Azareye’h Thomas can be a player. He played well in the last game [Cincinnati; his first NFL start]. And then when Quinnen’s deal went down to Dallas, I thought more picks and you can maybe build this in the eyes that Moug and Aaron Glenn want to build it. They deserve that right to do it. Nobody’s going to have more draft capital to get it done with. But it was shocking to see both those players get moved, but then to get the value for it as well.”
Mitchell (6-2, 205), the second-year player who Indy selected in the second round (No. 54 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out Texas after two years at Georgia, gives the Jets an intriguing talent. While Garrett Wilson is recovering from a knee injury (he was back practicing this week), Tyler Johnson and Isaiah Williams played well against the Bengals. The Jets also added Metchie in the trade of Michael Carter II to the Eagles, and suddenly the Jets have more options in OC Tanner Engstrand’s offense.
“He’s legitimately … Georgia, Texas … he’s a top flight talent, and he can run the routes … there’s skill,” Baldinger said of Mitchell. He added: “There’s real value in that player, the second-round pick played at major universities, like he can flat out run and he’s got size.”
On Metchie, who played for Nick Saban at Alabama (and with Jets rookie safety Malachi Moore), Baldinger believes it’s a new start for him after a few seasons in Houston and one in Philadelphia.
“He came off of a major knee injury in Alabama,” Baldinger said. “But you play football at Alabama, they’re only going to get the very best of the best, and just to get on the field, you got to compete. So, I think it’s a fresh start.”
He added: “He’s mostly been a slot receiver. … They’ve [the Jets] been looking for that position for a long time. They’ve had a lot of guys come through there to play that slot position. They’ve drafted different guys. He might get a chance to really play in that position and maybe solidify that position.”