New York Jets have two clear bright spots in midst of another losing season

New York Jets have two clear bright spots in midst of another losing season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Jets were able to defeat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday on a game-winning 56-yard field goal by Nick Folk. But it's a small slice of happiness for a fanbase that is likely to endure a 13th straight season in which the team misses the postseason.

But the team seems to have nailed two trades that were made ahead of this year's trade deadline, and neither of the players they received drew headlines at that time.

Both of those moves gave the Jets more options in the passing game. The team received Adonai Mitchell, who was seen by many as just a throw-in in the trade that sent Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts. Not only did the Jets get two future first-round picks in that deal, but they also got Mitchell, a second-year wide receiver with a ton of upside.

In a separate deal, the Jets acquired John Metchie from the Philadelphia Eagles, just two months after the Eagles had acquired Metchie in a trade with the Houston Texans. Neither of these deals seemed like they would mean much at the time, but the Jets clearly received two future building blocks.

In the case of Metchie, he caught 40 passes in 29 games with the Texans. He had only four catches in his short Philly tenure. But with the Jets, he has caught 14 passes in four games. Most importanly, he has found the end zone twice, something he had done just once in his entire career before coming to New York.

Mitchell was a hot prospect entering the 2024 draft. The Colts took him with the 52nd overall pick, but he was lost in the shuffle there, catching just 32 passes in his season and a half there. But in New York, he has already caught 12 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, including the eight catches for 102 yards and a touchdown he posted against Atlanta on Sunday.

In addition to Garrett Wilson, who is currently on injured reserve with a sprained knee, the Jets have an exciting collection of receivers to help them move forward. That will be an enticing prospect to present to the quarterback of this Jets' future, who they will almost certainly be looking for in next spring's draft.

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