Jets Find a Spark in AD Mitchell, Special Teams Dominate, and Draft Outlook Shifts
It’s amazing what a couple of wins can do-not just for the standings, but for the vibe around a team. Over the weekend, the Jets picked up their third win in five games, and while a playoff push isn’t on the table, there’s a growing sense that this team is starting to find its footing. Wins are nice, but development is the real currency right now, and the Jets are starting to stack some of both.
Let’s start with one of Sunday’s breakout stars: wide receiver AD Mitchell.
AD Mitchell’s Breakout Performance
If you’re just now tuning into Mitchell’s rise, Sunday was your welcome party. The rookie wideout turned in the most complete game of his young NFL career in the Jets’ win over the Falcons, and it wasn’t just about the numbers-though those were impressive, too.
Mitchell was targeted 12 times, the first time he’s hit double digits in the pros. He hauled in 8 of those for 102 yards and, most notably, his first NFL touchdown.
It wasn’t just a stat-padding performance either-Mitchell’s speed, route running, and sure hands were on full display. On his touchdown, he erased the defender’s cushion in a flash and showed the kind of control and body positioning that you just can’t teach.
This was a far cry from his rocky start with the Jets, when he managed just 1 catch on 6 targets against the Patriots, including two drops. But that’s life for a young receiver-drops happen, just like fumbles for running backs. The key is how you respond, and Mitchell’s bounce-back has been exactly what this coaching staff was hoping to see.
Head coach Aaron Glenn made it clear postgame: Mitchell wasn’t just a throw-in. The Jets believed in his talent, and Sunday was a glimpse of why.
Special Teams: Quietly Elite
The Jets’ special teams unit has quietly been one of the most consistent forces on the roster this season-and against Atlanta, they were flat-out dominant.
The unit posted an Expected Points Added (EPA) of 15.22, the second-highest single-game mark by any special teams group in the league this year. For the Jets, it’s their second-best special teams performance since 2000.
Let’s break that down a bit. EPA is a metric that measures the impact of a play or unit on the expected points of a game.
So, 15.22 EPA means the Jets’ special teams directly contributed over two touchdowns worth of value. That’s not just good-it’s game-changing.
Kicker Nick Folk was the hero with a game-winning field goal, a boot that not only sealed the win but also triggered a $125,000 incentive bonus in his contract. Not a bad day's work.
And it goes beyond just one game. On the season, the Jets’ special teams rank third in the NFL in EPA.
They lead the league in average kick return yardage, are ninth in punt return average, and are holding opponents to the second-lowest average on punt returns. They’re also first in special teams touchdowns and field goal percentage, fourth in punts downed inside the 20, and fifth in average starting field position after opponent punts.
In other words: this group is elite.
No wonder Aaron Glenn said after the game that Folk has “years left” in the league. If the Jets don’t have to worry about their kicker for a while, that’s one less problem to solve.
Draft Position Update
With the win over Atlanta, the Jets now sit with the #7 and #23 picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s a strong position for a team still building its core.
Their chances of landing the #1 overall pick have all but vanished-just a 2% shot now-and if you’ve watched the Titans or Saints this season, you can see why. Even if the Jets were to lose out, it’s unlikely they’d slide into that top spot.
But holding two first-rounders, especially one in the top 10, puts the Jets in a position of power. Whether they want to stay put and add two foundational players or package picks to move up or down, they’ll have options.
Around the Roster
There are a few other storylines worth tracking:
- Sauce Gardner avoided a major injury. The Colts confirmed it’s a calf issue-not an Achilles-which means no IR for now.
He’s considered week-to-week, and the expectation is that he’ll return before season’s end. That’s good news for Gardner, who was always a well-liked figure in New York, but it also has implications for the Jets.
The Colts’ upcoming schedule is brutal: Jaguars, Seahawks, 49ers, then they close with the Jaguars again and the Texans. A team that once sat at 8-2 could very realistically be 8-8 by the end of the season.
That’s good news for the Jets, who own their pick.
- Justin Fields mentioned there’s been some talk about using him in a Wildcat role, though he admitted he has “mixed feelings” about it. His concern?
Going in cold could lead to a soft-tissue injury. It’s a fair point-and one that highlights the challenge of working in a quarterback with Fields’ skill set in a limited package.
- Arian Smith was notably absent, and when asked if it was a disciplinary benching, Aaron Glenn kept it close to the vest: “That’s something that me and him will keep between us.” Classic coach speak, but it’s something to monitor moving forward.
Final Thoughts
The Jets aren’t going to be playing January football this season, but that doesn’t mean these games don’t matter. Young players like AD Mitchell are stepping up, the special teams unit is playing at an elite level, and the front office has positioned itself well for the draft.
This is what progress looks like. It’s not always linear, and it’s not always flashy-but it’s there. And right now, the Jets are laying the kind of foundation that could pay off in a big way down the line.