FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In Garrett Wilson's first four seasons with the New York Jets, his opening-day sidekicks at wide receiver were, chronologically:
Corey Davis, Allan Lazard, Mike Williams and Josh Reynolds.
One got benched (Lazard), one got traded (Williams) and one got injured (Reynolds). None of them caught more than 32 passes.
Next tag-team partner up: Adonai Mitchell.
"If he continues on this trajectory right here," receivers coach Shawn Jefferson said of Mitchell, "he will be a really good Robin for our Batman. Big time."
Except for an 11-game stretch in 2024, when Davante Adams was acquired in a trade that reunited him and Aaron Rodgers, Gotham City has lacked a dynamic duo at receiver in recent years. The franchise that produced star tandems such as Wayne Chrebet-Keyshawn Johnson (1990s) and Al Toon-Wesley Walker (1980s) has fielded its share of jokers.
In Mitchell, the Jets believe they have an ascending talent, ready to pop in his third year in the NFL -- a player whose outside vertical speed should complement Wilson's slipperiness in the short and intermediate areas.
Since 2022, the Jets have relied on Wilson and running back Breece Hall as their offensive staples, hoping each season to uncover a third option -- either a No. 2 wide receiver or a pass-catching tight end.
Hall said he and Wilson have a friendly competition, trying to outdo each other for the unofficial title of "best player on offense." They'd love it if their two-man show turned into a three-man battle. Did someone say four?
"I believe we have the pieces in place that will get us to playing meaningful football in December, something I've dreamed about doing for a long time," said Wilson, who, like Hall, has yet to experience a winning season in the green and white.
Hall believes this is the best and most cohesive skill-position group they've had during their tenure, saying, "We feel we finally have a team around us for us to really flourish and do what we know we can do."
To be fair, the Wilson-Adams-Hall troika produced solid numbers, if not victories, in 2024 -- a 5-12 season. In fact, Wilson set career highs in catches (101), receiving yards (1,104) and touchdowns (seven), in part, because Adams was able to draw coverage away from him. That they got competent quarterback play from Rodgers also was a factor.
Adams was productive (67 catches for 854 yards in 11 games), but he was perceived as a hired gun, just passing through to satisfy Rodgers' desire for another weapon. The Mike Williams experiment backfired, leading to the Adams trade.
This time, the candidates for the "Robin" role have a chance to stick around for a while. Mitchell, acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in last season's Sauce Gardner blockbuster trade, is signed through 2027. Tight end Mason Taylor is under contract through 2028. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., both 2026 first-round picks, are signed through 2029.
Hall and Wilson are locked up through 2028 and 2030, respectively, so you can see why Hall has talked about having stability and continuity for a change. In theory, the group will grow together, presumably with a long-term quarterback solution arriving in 2027.
The key is player development. Hall and Wilson are the only proven players; the others still are feeling their way through the early stages of their careers. Growing pains are likely.
Which brings us back to Mitchell, the most experienced of the bunch -- a 2024 second-round pick with 56 receptions in three seasons. In Indianapolis, he was inconsistent, had some drops and lost playing time before being shipped to New York.
Initially perceived as a "throw in" in the Gardner trade, in which the Jets also received two first-round picks, Mitchell actually was a prime target for the front office. No Mitchell, no deal. He flashed a little last season (24 catches in eight games for the Jets) and became the talk of the offseason, settling into the team and raising expectations.
"A new start, a new beginning, new quarterback, new system," Mitchell said. "I mean, I love it. I love the challenge. I love embracing what we have here."
In the offseason, Mitchell hopped on a flight and flew to Miami to work out with newly acquired quarterback Geno Smith. For five days, Mitchell, Smith and Taylor powered through oppressive heat and humidity in an effort to build chemistry before training camp.
Early in camp, Hall named Mitchell, Taylor, Sadiq and running back Braelon Allen as the four players who could help lift the offense to a higher level -- which is to say, out of the basement. They finished 29th in scoring, their 10th straight year in the bottom 10.
Sadiq hasn't been available; he has missed the past eight practices because of a setback from offseason hernia surgery. He's expected to return by Week 1, but it's fair to wonder about residual effects from the layoff.
Taylor and Allen are having good camps, with Allen's role increasing now that Hall (strained groin) is out for two to three weeks, according to coach Aaron Glenn. And let's not forget about Cooper. The Jets thought enough of him to trade into the bottom of the first round, but he has been up and down.
Playing with the backups, Cooper made two catches for 31 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason opener Friday, but his role for the regular season is uncertain. He has lost reps to Isaiah Williams, the biggest surprise in camp. Williams is drawing effusive praise from the coaches. Cooper is experiencing "little pitfalls," according to Jefferson -- not uncommon for a rookie.
Still, there is optimism.
"It feels different this year," Wilson said. "It just does."
Call it a Bat signal.