Tag: adonai mitchell

The Indianapolis Colts have reportedly signed second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to his rookie contract.

With Mitchell’s deal done, the Colts now have all nine draft picks under contract.

According to Aaron Wilson, over the standard four-year rookie contract, Mitchell will earn $7.386 million, with 65.22 percent of the deal guaranteed. The contract also includes a $2.191 million signing bonus.

Mitchell will be tasked with providing the Colts with that added playmaking ability at receiver. With 4.34 speed, Mitchell can win downfield, which not only provides a vertical presence but having that element in an offense creates opportunities for other pass-catchers over the middle and on underneath routes.

With that said, Mitchell is much more than just a deep threat. His route-running abilities allow him to win in all parts of the field and do so in a variety of ways. Mitchell brings true No. 1 receiver potential to the offense.

“Explosive,” said Shane Steichen of Mitchell. “You can see the size. You can see the speed – hands, great hands. Even watching him in individual [drills] with Reggie [Wayne] just the way he plucks the ball.

“He’s a natural pass catcher. Again, like we talked about after the draft, he can separate at the top [of routes]. He ran some good routes here in seven-on-seven. He had some one-on-one winners which was good to see.”

Colts area scout Anthony Coughlan would say that Mitchell has the “clutch gene,” having appeared in the College Football Playoff all three seasons, catching 19 passes at nearly 16.0 yards per catch with six touchdowns in those contests.

Mitchell has already flashed his potential during OTAs and minicamp, seemingly making a play or two each practice.

“The explosiveness that he comes off the ball and wins one-on-ones,” said Steichen after practice. “I mean he’s been making a ton of plays out here the last couple of days. He’s going to bring an element to our offense that we’re really excited about.”

In the grand scheme of the NFL offseason, it’s late May, and the pads aren’t even on yet. However, rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell is already showcasing why the Colts had to select him.

During Thursday’s OTA practice, the second of which was open to the media, James Boyd of The Athletic noted that Mitchell “burned” the Colts’ secondary on a crosser during the 11-on-11 team period.

Then had arguably the “play of the day” during 7-on-7s, contorting his body to make an over the shoulder grab on a deep ball from Anthony Richardson.

“The explosiveness that he comes off the ball and wins one-on-ones,” said Shane Steichen after practice. “I mean he’s been making a ton of plays out here the last couple of days. He’s going to bring an element to our offense that we’re really excited about.”

The Colts’ 45 passes of 20-plus yards last season ranked 24th in the NFL. Of course, having Anthony Richardson back under center will help the offense generate more big plays, but Mitchell will play a key role in making that happen as well.

Mitchell ran a 4.34-second 40 at the NFL Combine and averaged 15.4 yards per catch last season. His presence will not only create more downfield opportunities for the Colts’ offense but when defenses have to be mindful of getting beat deep, that helps open up the middle of the field for other pass catchers.

However, it’s not as if Mitchell is only a deep threat. He comes to the NFL a fairly refined route runner, who will be able to make an impact at all three levels of the field, able to win in a variety of ways.

“Explosive,” said Shane Steichen of Mitchell. “You can see the size. You can see the speed – hands, great hands. Even watching him in individual [drills] with Reggie [Wayne] just the way he plucks the ball.

“He’s a natural pass catcher. Again, like we talked about after the draft, he can separate at the top [of routes]. He ran some good routes here in seven-on-seven. He had some one-on-one winners which was good to see.”

As is the case for any rookie, while the flashes are great, success comes from consistency and continually building upon these performances. It’s early and there is a long way to go before Week 1, but so far, Mitchell has been as advertised for this Colts’ offense.

Pro Football Focus picked one rookie to watch this upcoming season on each NFL team, and for the Indianapolis Colts, they chose wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Here is what PFF had to say about Mitchell:

“Despite being one of the most talented players in this year’s draft class, Adonai Mitchell was the 11th receiver off the board, at Pick No. 52. The numbers don’t lie, as Mitchell dropped just one pass on 103 targets over the past two years. He should form a dynamic duo with Michael Pittman Jr.”

GM Chris Ballard made it known early on in the offseason that adding more playmaking to the offense was going to be a priority. While Michael Pittman and Josh Downs create a strong foundation at the receiver position, more juice was needed.

Mitchell comes to the NFL with plenty of big-game experience, having played in the College Football playoffs in all three of his collegiate seasons. In those games, Mitchell would catch 19 passes at almost 16 yards per catch with six scores. Colts area scout Anthony Coughlan would say that Mitchell has the “clutch gene.”

An elite athlete, running a 4.34 second 40 and averaging 15.4 yards per catch in 2023 with Texas, Mitchell brings that needed big play ability to the Colts’ offense. His ability to win downfield will not only add another vertical presence, but Mitchell’s gravity in those situations should open up opportunities for Down and Pittman over the middle.

With that said, it’s not as if that’s the only part of the field where the Colts will feel Mitchell’s impact. He leaves the college game as a fairly refined route runner, able to win in a variety of ways and do so at all levels of the field. Like any rookie, development is needed, but Mitchell has true top target potential.

“Explosive,” said Shane Steichen of Mitchell. “You can see the size. You can see the speed – hands, great hands. Even watching him in individual [drills] with Reggie [Wayne] just the way he plucks the ball. He’s a natural pass catcher. Again, like we talked about after the draft, he can separate at the top [of routes]. He ran some good routes here in seven-on-seven. He had some one-on-one winners which was good to see.”

While all eyes will be on quarterback Anthony Richardson and his development in Year 2, it’s not as if he has to shoulder the workload on his own either. The addition of Mitchell will go a long way in helping with some of that heavy lifting.

Eight of the Indianapolis Colts’ nine-member draft class is now under contract. The one player who remains unsigned is wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Now, of course, there is nothing to be concerned about. There are many draft picks who are currently unsigned with their respective teams.

The rookie wage scale sets parameters, based on where the player was drafted, that puts in place a ceiling and a floor for how much each draft pick can earn over their standard four-year contract.

So negotiating is somewhat limited but does center around where the player will fall within that salary range and how much of the deal is guaranteed. For a more detailed look at the rookie wage scale, click here.

Oftentimes, the contract value and the amount of guarantees are largely determined by what players in similar draft spots have agreed to. In Mitchell’s case, he was drafted at 52nd overall, but on either side of him, the closest draft picks that have been signed at picks 46 and 61.

Until picks 50 and 51 lay the groundwork in regards to how much they will earn, Mitchell and his agent might be playing the waiting game.

For an idea, Over the Cap is projecting that Mitchell’s total contract will be worth $7.38 million and include a $2.19 million signing bonus. His projected cap hit for 2024 is just $1.34 million.

As far as a timeline on when Mitchell’s deal could officially be done, Seattle running back Zach Charbonnet was the 52nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and the Seahawks didn’t officially sign him until July 25th, just before training camp was set to begin.

For a closer look at the rookie deals for the Colts’ other eight selections, follow the links below:

Laiatu Latu
Matt Goncalves
Tanor Bortolini
Anthony Gould
Jaylon Carlies
Jaylin Simpson
Micah Abraham
Jonah Laulu

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Adonai Mitchell – along with Laiatu Latu – is one of 40 rookies participating in the NFL Players Association’s annual rookie premiere.

The event runs from May 16-19. For the players, it’s an opportunity to network and learn from some of the NFL’s business and marketing partners. For the fans, it’s an opportunity to see these recent draft picks in their full uniform.

Here is our first look at Mitchell in the Colts’ full game-day attire:

10AM. 🕙 #RookiePremiere pic.twitter.com/iGxQN7SnGB

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 18, 2024

The Rookies are all suited up 🔥 @NFLPA pic.twitter.com/nnKlAYz9Rv

— NFL (@NFL) May 18, 2024

The addition of Mitchell to the Colts’ offense gives them that added playmaking they were in need of. Mitchell averaged 15.4 yards per catch in 2023 and has plenty of big-game experience, playing in the College Football Playoffs during all three of his collegiate seasons.

Mitchell has the ability to win downfield, which will open up opportunities for other pass-catchers within the offense over the middle and underneath routes, but he has the skill set and route-running ability to win at levels and do so in a variety of ways.

“Explosive,” said Shane Steichen about Mitchell after the first rookie minicamp practice. “You can see the size. You can see the speed – hands, great hands. Even watching him in individual (drills) with Reggie (Wayne) just the way he plucks the ball. He’s a natural pass catcher.

“Again, like we talked about after the draft, he can separate at the top (of routes). He ran some good routes here in seven-on-seven. He had some one-on-one winners which was good to see.”