Adonai Mitchell, Aaron Glenn fired up about the new-look 2026 Jets

With midseason trades sending star players Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner elsewhere, Jets fans could be forgiven for expecting the 2026 season to be an uphill battle.

Undeterred by those departures, head coach Aaron Glenn and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, who joined Gang Green in November 2025, think there are reasons to be optimistic about the season ahead.

Adonai Mitchell’s bold Jets prediction

Appearing on DAZN’s Downs 2 Business show, hosted by Indianapolis Colts receiver Josh Downs and his brother, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, wide receiver Adonai Mitchell sounded like a man who believes the arrow points up.

Josh Downs set the scene, listing the Jets' impressive offensive weapons: “You’ve got a lot of young talent. Garrett [Wilson], Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Mason Taylor.”

Mitchell, who had 453 receiving yards in seven games after joining New York, believes that group means the sky is the limit.

“Those are ball players,” he said. “It’s all about just stacking everything up, being consistent.

“If we really are able to put it together. Let’s say everybody’s potential is met in one season. We can really do something. Something that hasn’t been brought to New York in a minute.”

Heading into his first offseason with the Jets, Mitchell is itching to get started.

“I can’t wait until we get started in OTAs, training camp, just to feel the team out."

Aaron Glenn backs Jets QB Geno Smith

Mitchell's optimism was matched by head coach Aaron Glenn.

Speaking at the NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Glenn was equally bullish on the quarterback position.

Geno Smith, originally drafted by the Jets in 2013, returned to New York in March 2026 after being acquired in a trade from the Las Vegas Raiders.

The veteran quarterback led the league in interceptions (17) last year, but Glenn believes Smith has what it takes to lead the Jets to better things.

“Listen, he's done it, you know, a couple of years. I mean, those years in Seattle, when he was, I think, Comeback Player of the Year. Man, he was up for MVP early in the season,” Glenn told NFL Network.

The Jets have been tipped to select a young signal-caller in the 2026 NFL Draft, raising questions about how secure Smith's role is.

Asked directly whether Smith was the starter, Glenn didn’t leave any room for doubt.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that we brought a competent starter here to this team. I look forward to him getting in the building."

Were there any remaining uncertainty, Glenn doubled down, adding: “No doubt about it. He’s our guy.”

More reasons the Jets could surprise

The Jets hold four picks in the first two rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, and are the only team with two picks in the top 16.

General manager Darren Mougey has been busy in free agency, adding blue-chip players T’Vondre Sweat and Minkah Fitzpatrick and bringing in Demario Davis to provide stability following Quincy Williams' exit.

New arrivals Joseph Ossai and Nahshon Wright could also be difference-makers if they play up to their potential.

While it remains to be seen whether those players gel quickly enough to get the Jets off to a fast start this season, the roster already looks in better shape than it did at the end of the 2025 season.

Mitchell on his and the Jets' fresh start

Asked about his midseason trade from Indianapolis, Mitchell stressed he is "happy to be a part of" the Jets, even though it meant leaving Josh Downs and the Colts behind.

Now, the 23-year-old is dreaming about how the new-look Jets can push each other on to bigger, better things.

“It’s going to be a competitive spring. It’s going to be a competitive fall,” he said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Watch the full Downs 2 Business episode involving Mitchell here.