The Indianapolis Colts began Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft with a trade back before selecting Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
After moving back to the No. 52 pick, the Colts grabbed an explosive prospect to add to the wide receiver room. Mitchell was a polarizing prospect throughout the pre-draft process.
Between a lack of elite production and reports from anonymous sources regarding character concerns—something Chris Ballard colorfully ranted about—Mitchell seemed to slip into the second round.
GRADES: NFL Draft grades for Colts WR Adonai Mitchell
The Colts figured that was far enough after they managed to trade back in the second round. They decided to give Anthony Richardson an explosive weapon to work with as he continues to develop.
Colts WR Adonai Mitchell pre-NFL draft scouting reports
Here’s what the draft analysts had to say about Mitchell before the Colts made the pick at No. 52 overall:
Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide):
Overall, Mitchell needs to become a more detail-focused receiver to fully unlock his talent, but he has the body length, loose athleticism and catch-pointskills to be a chain-moving weapon. He projects as a rangy, outside-the-numbers target with the lean, limber body type reminiscent of the late Chris Henry.
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.
Derrik Klassen, Bleacher Report
Mitchell is a good long-term play for a starting outside WR. Between his length, sufficient speed and relatively flexible movement ability, Mitchell has all the tools to blossom into a feature piece of an NFL offense with a bit more consistency.
Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
Mitchell grades out as a top-25 prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft on my board and a top-five WR prospect in a stacked positional class. For teams needing an X-receiver with rare 1-on-1 separation skills, Mitchell is worth mid-to-late Round 1 consideration. But he won’t be for every team.
Mitchell's fluidity and size make him a tough matchup for anyone, especially in the red zone. The biggest area of concern is that I wish he attacked the ball more when it was in the air. If he improves in that category, he has fringe WR1/WR2 abilities.
Damian Parson, The Draft Network
Overall, Mitchell’s combination of size, athleticism, and ability to run routes make him an intriguing prospect. He appears to be best served in an offense that has pre-snap motion and utilizes stacked alignments to give Mitchell free releases into the defense.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
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