The Indianapolis Colts were willing to make a massive move to acquire Sauce Gardner last season, but parting with wide receiver Adonai Mitchell wasn’t an easy decision.
New York Jets offensive coordinator and former Colts head coach Frank Reich said Indianapolis remained high on Mitchell when the teams negotiated their blockbuster trade.
According to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt, Reich said “everyone” he spoke with in the Colts organization was raving about Mitchell, including general manager Chris Ballard.
“They did not want to part with him,” Reich said, per Rosenblatt.
Reich described Mitchell as “super talented” and praised the receiver’s attention to detail, saying every rep matters to him and that Mitchell believes he will eventually get
things right.
Frank Reich said “everyone” with the Colts called him raving about AD Mitchell, including Chris Ballard.
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 10, 2026
“They did not want to part with him.”
“He’s super talented. In the best of ways, every rep matters for him. He wants to get it right, he knows he’ll get it right and he…
Indianapolis ultimately sent Mitchell and its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to New York for Gardner at the 2025 trade deadline.
Mitchell’s production increased after the move. He caught 24 passes for 301 yards and two touchdowns in eight games with the Jets after recording 32 receptions for 464 yards without a touchdown across 25 games for Indianapolis.
So, if Reich’s account is correct, Mitchell should make further strides this coming season.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Reich reveals Colts’ stance on AD Mitchell before Sauce Gardner trade
