Shane Steichen on Adonai Mitchell: 'He's been making a ton of plays'

It hasn’t taken long for Adonai Mitchell to make a strong impression. During his media availability, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen raved about Mitchell’s promising performances in practice.

“The explosiveness,” Steichen said. “He goes up for the ball and wins one-on-ones. He’s been making a ton of plays out here the last couple days. Really good to see those one-on-one winners. So, he’s gonna bring an element to our offense that we’re really excited about.”

Mitchell is a proven threat out wide. In the 2023 campaign at Texas, Mitchell tallied 55 receptions, 845 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, tied for fifth-most in a single season in program history. For his efforts, Mitchell was named the Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Award and an All-Big 12 Second-Team selection.

Before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2023 season, Mitchell spent two seasons at Georgia, where he amassed 21 appearances and 15 starts. Mitchell was a key receiver for the back-to-back national champions, collecting 38 passes for 560 yards and seven touchdowns in two years.

NFL scout breaks down Adonai Mitchell’s NFL potential

The Colts selected Mitchell in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft with the No. 52 overall pick. Steichen isn’t the only one with high expectations for the highly-touted rookie.

“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,” NFL analyst Lance Zierlein said ahead of the draft. “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.”

The Indianapolis Colts will welcome Mitchell’s pass-catching abilities. Last season, the Colts averaged 215.6 passing yards per game, ranking No. 20 in the NFL. With Anthony Richardson back from injury and Adonai Mitchell out wide, Indianapolis will look to improve its passing numbers this season.