Indianapolis Colts pick Adonai Mitchell in second round of 2024 NFL Draft. Pros and Cons
Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was the No. 20 selection of the second round (52nd pick overall) by the Indianapolis Colts, in the 2024 NFL Draft Friday as the Colts look to add weapons to their offense.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Longhorns star is the 11th receiver selected in the draft and the fourth one picked in the second round, but Mitchell could be a potential Day 1 starter in Indy. He was projected to be either a first or second round selection with several mock drafts having him as a late first rounder.
The Missouri City, Texas native played one season at Cane Ridge under former Ravens coach Eddie Woods, graduating in 2020. He signed with Georgia where he won two CFP national championships (2022 and 2023) and competed against Washington in the CFP semifinal in January.
Mitchell is the first player to play at Cane Ridge to be drafted in the NFL but is the second athlete to play for Cane Ridge drafted by a professional franchise. Former Cane Ridge great, Brandon Miller, was the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Here are the pros and cons of the Mitchell's selection for the Colts.
The pros
Just take a quick look at Mitchell's 40 time at the NFL Combine. He ran a blistering 4.34.
Mitchell has also shown the ability to make big plays in big moments. Against some of the nation's best teams, he had fourth-quarter touchdown catches that affected the outcomes. He had a TD in the Big 12 Championship (against Oklahoma State), caught a TD pass in the Sugar Bowl against Washington. He had the go-ahead touchdown for Georgia with 54 seconds left against Ohio State in the 2023 CFP semifinals, and a 22-yard TD against TCU in the championship game that year. In 2022, Mitchell caught a fourth-quarter, 40-yard TD that sealed the Bulldogs' 33-18 title win over Alabama.
Mitchell may not have a quick first step but he can create separation down field with long, effortless strides. His ability to track the ball in the air makes him a true vertical threat. He also excels at hand placement, making it difficult for a quarterback to be inaccurate if the ball is thrown anywhere near him.
His 6-2 frame also gives him a strong base on parts of the route tree, especially on dig and curl routes where he can take full advantage of his strength.
The cons
Mitchell is not a big yards-after-catch guy, although if he can beat coverage down field, his speed would make it difficult for a defensive back to track him down. Mitchell also needs to improve on his ability to win contested passes.
Staying engaged as blocker has also been a concern that Mitchell will need to shore up at the pro level. He's also shown he's struggled at times with press coverage. Opponents that thrive in man-coverage, who have physical corners would be a source of frustration for Mitchell.
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 2024 NFL Draft: Pros and Cons of the Colts' pick, Adonai Mitchell
