Adonai Mitchell hardly cracked a smile.
The 21-year-old wide receiver’s dream came true Friday night when the Indianapolis Colts, who traded back from the No. 46 pick to No. 52, selected him in the second round of the NFL Draft.
“First words out of my mouth I said, ‘You tired of sitting around?’” Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in a news conference after Day 2 ended. “The passion came out pretty clearly on the phone.”
Moments after having a conversation that changed his life, the TV broadcast of the draft showed Mitchell sitting on a couch surrounded by his family and friends
No tears were shed. No fists were pumped. No hugs were given — at least not yet.
All of that may have come after the cameras stopped rolling, but when the Texas star appeared via video conference a few minutes after becoming the 11th receiver selected in the draft, his face was still stone cold.
“I’m just kind of pissed,” Mitchell said. “I don’t really know what other way to call it.”
Mitchell eventually expressed gratitude, though his body language spoke the words his mouth wouldn’t. Deep down, he believes he should’ve been drafted higher, and perhaps if it weren’t for various anonymous reports questioning his character, he would have.
Ballard said his team was fortunate to land Mitchell, regardless of what others may think, before taking direct aim at those who dared to bad-mouth his rookie.
“I read some of the bulls— that was said,” Ballard said. “Unnamed sources, ‘bad interview,’ that’s such bull—. It f—ing is. It’s bullsh—. Put your name on it. I’m tired (of it). We tear these young men down. These are 21-, 22-year-old young men, and if people out there can tell me they’re perfect in their lives, it’s crap. It’s crap. This is a good kid.
“For those reports to come out … it’s bullsh—.”
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Ballard apologized for his profanity-filled rant, though he quickly took it back. He meant what he said, both about faceless critics and his team’s newest target.
Ballard believes Mitchell is a special athlete with the upside to become a special player. His 9.99 RAS (relative athletic score) ranks fifth out of 3,402 wide receiver prospects dating back to 1987, and his final college campaign provided a glimpse of what’s possible. After two seasons at Georgia, highlighted by back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, Mitchell transferred to Texas and blossomed as a deep and red zone threat. He became just the fifth wideout in Texas history to notch 11 receiving TDs in a single season to go along with career highs of 55 catches for 845 yards.
There’s no doubt in Mitchell’s mind he can be even better at the next level, especially with dynamic dual-threat quarterback Anthony Richardson under center. Mitchell praised Richardson, calling him a “freak athlete,” while noting he’s cut from a different cloth, too.
“I feel like as a quarterback, you always want to be perfect. Throw the perfect pass, make the perfect read,” Mitchell said. “I feel like with my ability, I don’t like my quarterback having that much pressure on him. Sometimes if you need to throw it a little high, I don’t care, just throw it in the area. Ain’t nobody coming down with it but me.”
AD meet AR, AR meet AD.
📺 #NFLDraft on ESPN/ABC/NFLN pic.twitter.com/NSxW7669U3
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2024
Ballard emphasized that nothing will be given to Mitchell. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound receiver will have to earn his keep in a position group headlined by Michael Pittman Jr., who is coming off a career year, and Josh Downs, who had a stellar rookie campaign in 2023. Mitchell will likely compete with Alec Pierce on the outside for the No. 3 role.
Mitchell’s adjustment to the NFL will take time, but Ballard is convinced the reward will be worth it because he’s also convinced his QB is for real. Richardson, who underwent shoulder surgery in October, is on track to be available for OTAs next month. After not making any offensive upgrades all offseason, Ballard finally took two swings Friday with Richardson’s long-term future in mind.
Mitchell was the most notable, impressing Colts head coach Shane Steichen and wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne enough at Texas’ pro day that they both were “beating the drum for a while now,” according to Ballard.
Indianapolis followed that pick by trading up from No. 82 to No. 79 to select Pitt offensive lineman Matt Goncalves. Although Goncalves started every game of his college career at right or left tackle, Ballard thinks the 23-year-old has the versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line. He projects as a backup early with starting potential in the future.
“Just the fact that they can trade up to go get me, it meant absolutely the world to me,” Goncalves said. “Just getting that call was a dream come true. … I’m gonna take every advantage of it. They won’t regret this pick, I promise you.”
“I’m a 🤬 Colt!”@MattGoncalves77 had the whole draft room fired up. pic.twitter.com/23w5U9ynVu
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2024
Ballard’s temper cooled by the end of his news conference Friday, pleased with the acquisitions of Goncalves and Mitchell as he turned his attention to Day 3 of the draft. But Mitchell may not be able to say the same.
Perhaps he’ll finally crack a smile when he touches down in Indy, the same city where he won a national championship in 2022 — or maybe not.
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“I’m stepping into a league with the 1 percent, so I have to take every part of my game there,” Mitchell said. “This is a job. This is nothing fun. This ain’t just no hobby. This is what I do for a living, and this is what I have been training to do for a living, so just approaching it with that mindset. I’m just ready to work.”
(Photo: Matthew Pearce / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
