The Cleveland Browns were inches away from landing a much-needed offensive weapon at the trade deadline. While the team has often been a seller in years past, this year they were actively shopping for a young wide receiver.
Instead, they were left watching as 23-year-old A.D. Mitchell was sent to the New York Jets, leaving Cleveland to wonder what could have been.
Why Did the Browns’ Deal for A.D. Mitchell Fall Apart?
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Browns nearly pulled off a trade for Mitchell. The receiver, who spent his first two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, was ultimately included in the blockbuster deal that sent him to the Jets. Cleveland’s potential deal was pushed aside when the Colts executed a major trade to improve their defense, a move that involved shipping Mitchell to New York.
The Browns had a deal in place for WR A.D. Mitchell for a late round pick before he was sent to the Jets, per @RapSheet. pic.twitter.com/C2ZgXv7Lsu
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) November 8, 2025
Rapoport said that Mitchell would have been traded for “a late round pick” in a deal that likely would not have included any other players. Although numerous Day 3 draft picks were exchanged at the deadline, the Browns failed to turn a sixth or seventh-rounder into an additional offensive weapon.
So far in the 2025-26 season, Mitchell has nine receptions for 152 yards. He has been targeted 16 times, which shows he was not a focal point of the Colts’ offense. The Texas graduate played in all 17 games during his 2024-25 rookie season, turning those snaps into 23 receptions for 312 yards. He has yet to score his first NFL touchdown, but he does have two fumbles.
Mitchell also had four carries for six yards in 2024-25, but the Colts did not go back to him in the run game this year. That could be something the Jets try to re-incorporate into their offense, but Mitchell fumbling on one of his four carries may not have sat well with Indianapolis.
For Mitchell, the trade marks a dramatic shift in team dynamics, as he goes from a first-place team to a club that could be drafting No. 1 overall. He went from playing with Daniel Jones, who has an A grade and is ranked No. 1 in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric, to Justin Fields, who is ranked 29th with a D+ grade. Fields’ backup, Tyrod Taylor, is rated even lower, holding an F grade at 34th.
Regardless, the change of scenery for Mitchell was not an ideal outcome for Cleveland. The Browns’ leading receivers are currently tight ends Harold Fannin Jr. and David Njoku.
Jerry Jeudy’s 257 yards are the most for any receiver on the team, and he is the only wideout among the top four players in receiving yards. Mitchell could have made an immediate impact, but the Colts went in a different direction.