Colts draft WR Adonai Mitchell - Round 2, Pick 52

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

After the trade back, Colts go offense with this pick.

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/st...18457534640577

The Colts are getting Texas WR Adonai Mitchell with the No. 52 pick.

6-2, 205 and FAST. 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

55 catches, 845 yards, 11 TDs last season.

https://twitter.com/JoelAErickson/st...19466528907395

Ballard spoke at length about the depth of this wide receiver class, and Mitchell's the 11th one off the board.

Indianapolis gets a freakishly athletic player.

Only one year of high-level production, but the Colts needed to get a wide receiver in this draft.

https://twitter.com/HolderStephen/st...52115276476906

GM Chris Ballard says HC Shane Steichen and WR Reggie Wayne were "beating the drum" for Mitchell for a while.

https://twitter.com/ZachHicks2/statu...18824146149807

My analysis of Adonai Mitchell was that he is either going to be a top five receiver in the league or on his second team by the end of his rookie deal... Boom or bust, swing for the fences and I 100% get it at this spot in the draft

https://twitter.com/MathBomb/status/1783903982173209001

Adonai Mitchell is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class.

He scored a 9.99 RAS out of a possible 10.00.

This ranked 5 out of 3402 WR from 1987 to 2024.

[AlwaysSunnyinIndy]

https://nfldraft.theringer.com/


Here was The Ringer's profile about Mitchell. They ranked him as the 31st best prospect in this draft.

SCOUTING REPORT BY DANNY KELLY

Mitchell is tall with a sinewy build and excellent length. He’s a super smooth athlete with good body control and balance. He brings a very effective release package from the line, using quick feet, lateral twitch, and sudden jukes to dart past press, often leaving cornerbacks flailing and stumbling. He creates separation as a route runner, flashing the ability to sink his hips, cut, and change direction without gearing down. He keeps cornerbacks guessing at the top of his route stem, using subtle head and shoulder fakes, jukes, leans, and push-offs to ditch tight coverage. He’s really dangerous on double moves, selling his fake well by stuttering his steps and dropping his weight. He can get open against man coverage on isolation routes. He’s surprisingly agile in the short area despite his height, and he runs a nasty whip route. Mitchell is strong at the catch point, using his long frame to shield defenders from the ball while showing excellent concentration to jump, twist, and contort in the air to bring it down. He’s a good deep threat (he notched a 16-yard average depth of target on the season, which ranked tied for 22nd among all FBS receivers with 50-plus targets, and averaged 15.4 yards per catch). He has a knack for separating late in his route, waiting until the ball is just about to land before using subtle push-offs or shoulder shrugs to buy himself some space. He had just one drop on 86 targets last year, per PFF. He tracks the ball beautifully—see his touchdown catch against Alabama or his deep bomb against Kansas State. He has that DK Metcalf–like ability to extend just a little bit more to make a play.

Mitchell plays with an edge and wants the ball in the biggest moments; he caught a 40-yard, go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff national championship game against Alabama two years ago. Last year, he caught the game-clinching touchdown against Ohio State in the CFP semifinal. And in January, he caught a fade pass to the end zone for a score, putting Texas within striking distance of the Washington Huskies midway through the fourth quarter of that CFP semifinal game.

Mitchell makes plays deep but doesn’t always run his routes to his timed speed. He looks lackadaisical on the backside of plays at times, when he knows the ball isn’t coming his way. He was inconsistent in contested catch situations, snagging just four of 11 contested catch opportunities last year, per PFF. He’s tall and slender and lacks real power; he struggles at times to sustain blocks on the outside. He doesn’t break many tackles after the catch.

WHY HE COULD RISE

Mitchell combines savvy route-running chops with big-play talent and a give-me-the-ball mentality; he’s a three-level threat with the upside to develop into a WR1.

WHY HE COULD FALL

He never posted elite numbers and was not even the most productive receiver on his own team in 2023; he’s underpowered and may need to put on some bulk at the next level.

[Dam8610]

Nice to have a receiver named God.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


Chris Ballard Goes on Profanity-Filled Rant to Defend ‘Pissed’ 2nd-Round Pick Adonai Mitchell

(By Nate Atkins)

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...l/73463524007/

o

[apballin]

Chose #10 to signify the number of WR drafted ahead of him

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by apballin

He chose #10, to signify the number of WR's drafted ahead of him.

o


For all I know, this guy might wind up in the Hall-of-Fame someday and be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Alworth, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison ...... but I don't think that calling attention to yourself in such a brazen, challenging manner before you've caught a single pass in the NFL is necessarily the most prudent route to take. At least Joe Namath's team made it to the Super Bowl before he guaranteed that they would win it.

o

[Dam8610]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

o


For all I know, this guy might wind up in the Hall-of-Fame someday and be mentioned in the same breath as Lance Alworth, Steve Largent, Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison ...... but I don't think that calling attention to yourself in such a brazen, challenging manner before you've caught a single pass in the NFL is necessarily the most prudent route to take. At least Joe Namath's team made it to the Super Bowl before he guaranteed that they would win it.

o

How exactly does this call attention to him? The only people who will even know about it are diehard football fans who care enough about him and the draft to know why he chose his number. This is, quite simply, a personal motivator for a player who seems to perform better when he has more motivation to do better. I think it's great and I hope he helps take the Colts to a Super Bowl and then tells the media why he chose his number.

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

o


Chris Ballard Goes on Profanity-Filled Rant to Defend ‘Pissed’ 2nd-Round Pick Adonai Mitchell

(By Nate Atkins)

https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...l/73463524007/

o

o


(7 MONTHS LATER)



Adonai Mitchell Seizes Opportunity in Career Game Against the Bills

(By Amanda Foster)

https://www.colts.com/news/colts-wr-...rce-receptions

o

[Spike]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

o


(7 MONTHS LATER)



Adonai Mitchell Seizes Opportunity in Career Game Against the Bills

(By Amanda Foster)

https://www.colts.com/news/colts-wr-...rce-receptions

o

He looked damn good against the Bills. One of the bright spots in that shit show.

[Colts And Orioles]

o


(vs. PATRIOTS, 12/01)


Mitchell dropped a ball that was right in his hands at the worst time, in the waning seconds of the 4th quarter ...... fortunately, Anthony Richardson and company bailed him out by scoring a TD and a 2-point conversion a few plays later to win the game.

o