The Cleveland Browns went into the 2025 NFL trade deadline in a strange spot. Despite being 2-6, the Browns were viewed as both buyers and sellers.
Cleveland was looking to move some of their expiring veterans, while also looking to add young players on rookie deals.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, one trade was in the works and was nearing completion. But the New York Jets ruined that trade, as their blockbuster deal with the Indianapolis Colts stole wide receiver Adonai Mitchell from the Browns.
How the Browns had Colts' Adonai Mitchell stolen by the Jets
Mitchell was traded to the Jets as part of the blockbuster Sauce Gardner trade, which sent the All-Pro cornerback to the Colts in exchange for Mitchell and two first-round picks. But the Jets weren't the only team interested in Mitchell.
"In fact," Rapoport reports, "Had he not gone to the Jets as part of the Gardner deal, the Browns planned to complete a trade for Mitchell, sending a late-round pick to Indianapolis."
Andrew Berry and the Browns could've taken a cheap swing at a fun wide receiver if they could've completed this deal. While he has just nine catches for 152 yards this season for the Colts, Mitchell's potential is very appealing.
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The former 2024 second-rounder is only 23 years old and has 2.5 years of control left on his rookie deal. Regardless of whether it's Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur Sanders, or another quarterback, Mitchell could've been a quality addition to the wide receiver room.
Jerry Jeudy has been a disappointment, and Cedric Tillman is coming off an injury that kept him out for the last four weeks. Isaiah Bond hasn't done much, and the rest of the Browns' wide receivers haven't done much for Cleveland in 2025.
Mitchell, a polarizing deep threat, would've been a great pickup for the Browns. He had fallen out of favor with the Colts, and the Browns nearly got him for a late-round pick. Instead, he's part of the Jets' blockbuster return for Sauce Gardner.
The Browns can enact some revenge in Week 10 with a win over the Jets. If they can beat the Jets and also hold Mitchell to an unproductive day, then the Browns' missing Mitchell could sting less for at least one week.
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