On a recent appearance on the ‘Downs 2 Business’ podcast with Josh and Caleb Downs, former Indianapolis Colts’ wide receiver AD Mitchell reflected on being traded to the New York Jets midseason.
Prior to last season’s trade deadline, the Colts sent two first-round picks and Mitchell to the Jets in exchange for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
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“I feel like that was the reset that I needed,” Mitchell said. “Obviously, Indy’s receiver room was crowded. A couple things happened, you know, that kind of changed the sequence of events out there. So, just getting that fresh start, I felt like that was the best thing for my career. Just getting in the building bro, they were happy I was there. I was happy to be part of it.”
From Day 1 with the Colts, Mitchell’s talent has been evident. He possesses an impressive combination of speed and route-running abilities that allow him to separate and make him a threat at all levels of the field.
However, Mitchell also found himself in a very crowded Colts‘ wide receiver room at that time, and inconsistent play wasn’t helping him earn more snaps. With Alec Pierce’s continued emergence, it became difficult to see how Mitchell was going to earn more opportunities. Cornerback, meanwhile, remained an uncertainty as the Colts navigated numerous injuries in 2025.
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With the Jets, Mitchell was a big part of that offense. In eight games, he had 56 targets, including three games with at least eight passes thrown his way. He would finish the 2025 season with the Jets, catching 24 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns, per PFF.
In the Jets’ Week 13 win over Atlanta, Mitchell had a career day, hauling in eight passes for 102 yards and a score.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Former Colts WR AD Mitchell addresses being traded to Jets