by Paul Bretl
After trading down initially, the Colts were still able to land one of the top playmakers at the receiver position in this year’s draft, selecting Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell at 52nd overall.
Mitchell has good size at 6-2 – 205 pounds and is an excellent athlete, posting a Relative Athletic Score of 9.99 with a 4.34-second 40-yard dash. He totaled 845 yards in 2023 as a primary boundary target, but he does have slot experience. Mitchell averaged 15.4 yards per catch with 11 touchdowns and ranked seventh in average depth of target, with the Texas offense trying to push the ball to him downfield.
This type of presence that can stretch the field, an important aspect of Shane Steichen’s offense, will not just create big plays for an offense that needs it, but it can create opportunities for others. Mitchell’s speed will also allow Steichen to scheme up designed touches where he can get the ball in space and be utilized as a pre-snap motion man as well.
With that said, Mitchell is not only a vertical presence or gadget player. He has a stong route tree and the upside to develop into a true No. 1 target, impacting all levels of the field.
Now, for more on Mitchell’s game and what he can bring to the Colts’ offense, here is what several draft analysts had to say in their scouting reports:
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
What Jeremiah had to say: “Mitchell has outstanding size, toughness and polish for the position. He is fast and has a long stride. He has surprisingly good route polish for a bigger receiver. He understands how to change tempo, and he’s clean getting in and out of breaks. He gave Kool-Aid McKinstry a lot of trouble in the Alabama game last September, finishing with three catches for 78 yards and two TDs. He has some wow catches on fades and 50/50 balls. He can climb the ladder, hang and finish (SEE: his TD grab against Washington in the College Football Playoff). It looks like he gets a little lazy at times on the back side of routes, assuming the ball is going elsewhere. He doesn’t have a ton of production after the catch. Overall, though, Mitchell is an ideal X receiver. He can make plays when covered, and he’s a real weapon in the red zone.”
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
What Zierlein had to say: “Ascending prospect with size, speed and ball skills to become a very good NFL receiver, but he’s still in the process of bridging those traits. Mitchell can beat press and has the speed to take the battle to the third level but he’s still learning the art of bullying the catch space in tight quarters and jump-ball battles. He’s not always a natural hands-catcher, but his ability to snare balls outside his frame is top-notch. His route running currently lacks focus and consistency, but agility and burst out of breaks will not be an issue. Mitchell is rugged after the catch and has the ability to become a winner on all three levels. The difference between becoming a WR2 or WR1 could rest on his urgency and willingness to go to work on the unpolished areas of his craft.”
Bleacher Report Scouting Department
What the Bleacher Report Scouting Department had to say: “Adonai Mitchell is a lanky receiver with ample speed and surprisingly smooth movement skills.
“Mitchell needs a few steps to get going off the snap, but once he does, he can really stride out and be an issue down the field. Mitchell can even do so reliably when defensive backs put their hands on him and try to slow him down. As such, he is a good piece to use on go routes, posts, and intermediate and deep crossers.
“Mitchell also brings a good route-running foundation to get open elsewhere. Though his tall frame somewhat limits his quickness, Mitchell is a smooth operator for a player his size. He can sink his hips effectively, and he rarely gets hung up coming out of his breaks. Mitchell can run sharp-breaking routes such as slants, dig routes and comebacks fairly well for a player with his frame.”
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
What Cummings had to say: “At just 21 years old, Mitchell is already a surgical route runner with size-defying flexibility, bend, footwork efficiency, and hinge fluidity. And he packs in his explosiveness, forward-pressing speed, agility, and twitch, physicality, and nuance to further confound defenders in 1-on-1 situations.
“Mitchell has a full route tree, a full route-running framework, and the athleticism to threaten vertically and create extra space. Meanwhile, at the catch point, he has some of the surest, most coordinated hands in the class and is exceptional at contorting his body and timing his extensions.
“With a long 6’2 1/4″ frame, Mitchell is exceptional across the board, from explosiveness and speed to route running, instincts, and physicality. If he can continue to cut down on occasional inefficiencies and lulls in late-snap effort, the sky is the limit.”
Jordan Reid, ESPN
What Reid had to say: “After originally starting his career with Georgia, Mitchell transferred to Texas before the 2023 season and quickly became a big part of the Longhorns’ offense. He had career-highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (845) and touchdowns (11). And despite being a bigger receiver, Mitchell has impressive vertical speed (4.34-second 40-yard dash) and the body control to break off routes. He also has strong hands to make catches outside his frame and in contested situations. But he must become more consistent with his release plans against press coverage.”
Originally posted on coltswire.com