Draft Analysis: Adonai Mitchell

March 15, 2024 /
  • Height: 6’2″
  • Weight: 205 lb.
  • College: Texas
  • Tape watched: Alabama, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Kansas
  • NFL Comparison: Nicole Collins

Pros

  • Athleticism

Testing results wise, Adonai Mitchell is one of the most athletic, explosive, and dynamic athletes in draft history.  His height, weight, speed, and explosion scores are in the 99th percentile of the NFL Combine.  Mitchell translates it well on the field with his acceleration, deep speed, and leaping abilities.

  • Hands

The best hands I’ve scouted this year so far belong to AD Mitchell.  He only had a single charted drop in 2023.  He is a pure hand catcher.  Mitchell also tracks the ball as well as anyone in the class.  He shows NFL-ready late hands when running down passes, which allows him to catch most balls just out of normal reach. 

His contested catch rate hovers right around 33%, but I attribute that more to an abundant amount of low percentage chance targets.

  • Route Running

Adonai Mitchell is a true deep threat in the NFL.  He threatens help from safeties with his speed.  Mitchell does a great job staying square to defenders before his route cuts. I think he has work to do on underneath routes.  He can be lazy to work back to the ball and wasn’t used much on shallow crossing routes.

Notice a much better work-back to the football on this route.

Mitchell has a strong and quick break step, allowing him to keep forward momentum.  He utilizes a quick and convincing rocker step at the top of his stem also.

Mitchell is great at stepping on toes and slashing inside.
AD does a fantastic job to attack the defensive backs leverage before making hit cut. This is high-level, detailed route running.

Midline

  • Production Experience

With one season of real college production, especially in the Big 12, AD Mitchell is still growing as a receiver. This can be a good thing, as long as he keeps his arror pointing up.  He could struggle against NFL talent early in his career.  11 touchdowns for Texas is a huge bright spot, however.

Cons

  • Blocking

There are too many missed assignments and poor technique for AD Mitchell’s blocking game. Mitchell has too many instances of grabbing outside defenders’ shoulders.  He has the size and strength to be adequate, but he needs to work on his craft.

  • YAC

Mitchell isn’t a guy that forces missed tackles.  He gets what he can and it’s good enough.

Overview

Take everything special about Ceedee Lamb post-catch, and I think you have a ceiling projection for AD Mitchell.  He does everything you want as a true WR1.  I think he may need a year or two to reach his full potential, but he can be a starter in year one.  Expect Adonai Mitchell to be a first round receiver, his athletic profile cones around only ever so often.