Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Pick Adonai Mitchell | 2024 NFL Draft Coverage

Starting point is 00:00:01 The pick is in. The Indianapolis Colts have made a selection in the 2024 NFL Draft alongside Lockdown College football host Spencer McLaughlin. I'm Tanitra Batiste and we are joined by Zach Hicks of Lockdown Colts to break down the Colts selecting A.D. Mitchell with the number 52 pick. So Zach, A.D. Mitchell was expected to be a part of that second run of receivers in this draft, but did you expect him to be there at 52 for the Colts? I think partially expected him to be there. I mean, we did get a lot of, you know, the pre-draft rumors about, I don't want to say character concerns because it feels very disingenuous to call diabetes character concerns and how you deal with type one diabetes as character concerns. But it was something that teams had flagged

Starting point is 00:00:51 in the pre-draft process. It was something where the way that he was handling it or so forth in the report did have teams a little bit concerned about how he's going to handle it at the next level. But, you know, look, this is a talented player. When you get to pick 52, you get to the middle of the second round, like the Colts were at, especially after a trade down. I mean, the athletic profile, the flashes he showed on film, the moments he had in college. I mean, he caught the game-winning touchdown against Ohio State back in 2022. It's easy to sell yourself on that pick there at pick 52,

Starting point is 00:01:24 again, in the middle of the second round. So, yeah, you know, maybe it's a bit shocking yourself on that pick there at pick 52 again in the middle of the second round so yeah you know maybe it's a bit shocking that he fell that far because the talent was just so great especially with the athletic profile but it's not as shocking when we heard a lot of those things in the pre-draft cycle but this is a definitely a swing for the fences it can be a guy who you know can be one of the best receivers in football one day with that athletic profile he has with the flashes that he had in college. So if you're the Colts, I mean, getting this type of talent at 52, you have to be cautiously optimistic, but optimistic for sure.

Starting point is 00:01:53 Indeed. But as good as he is with his athleticism, Zach, what are some of the areas where maybe you still see him improving or maybe having some upside and some potential to grow? Yeah, you know, it's fascinating. For a younger player, obviously, a younger player, you you got to hope that he can grow into some things. And I think when you're watching the film, you know, you see the fluidity and the way that he moves. And it's great.

Starting point is 00:02:15 It's top tier. But the timing is not always there on his route. You know, he's not hitting his landmarks like he needs to. He's not getting where he has to be. And you saw his yards after catch suffer because of that. A lot of his catches were away from his frame and had to be difficult catches. And partially that's because of the quarterback. But another part of that is he's not hitting the right landmark that he has to hit. He's not getting to the spot that he needs to in the right time. So for all his fluidity and all of his upside, he needs to be more precise

Starting point is 00:02:43 as a player, which again, as a 20-year-old player, 21-year-old player, there is potential to grow in that area. And that's where you have to really rely on your coaching staff and your offense. But I think those are things that need to show up. I mean, his production profile is not great either. I mean, we're looking at a very scary production profile

Starting point is 00:03:00 to go on top of that. Part of that is due to the transfer to Texas. But these are legit concerns. But if you're swinging for upside, production profile to go on top of that. Part of that is due to the transfer to Texas, but you know, these are legit concerns, but if you're swinging for upside, again, the way that he flashes on film, the way that he moves on film, you have to take that swing and just say, all right, coaches, here you go here. It's kind of like the Anthony Richardson pick last year, where it's like, look, here's this ball of clay that can be whatever you want it to be. Just, just do your thing. And that's kind of what this is with AD Mitchell.

Starting point is 00:03:25 Thinking the same. For more on the Colts, subscribe to Locked on Colts on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Spencer, what's the biggest asset A.D. Mitchell brings to this Colts offense? I think it's his vertical threat. You match that with Anthony Richardson's arm. That's a match made in heaven. You think Texas receivers and Xavier Worthy comes to mind. He got Patrick Mahomes. Well, I don't exactly hate this fit either. I think that one

Starting point is 00:03:49 in Kansas City is really good, but I think this one could be great as well. And Worthy's got the super fast 40 time, but let's not pretend that A.D. Mitchell is out there looking like he's jogging next to all the receivers in this NFL draft. He certainly is not. So I like A.D. Mitchell, contested catches. I think he's got the whole route tree at his disposal and someone who can just be a solid all-around receiver. But really that deep threat. I think you look at what the Colts have lacked at times over the years, and they haven't always had the guy.

Starting point is 00:04:21 You know, T.Y. Hilton was a big-time deep threat. But since then, yeah, you've had Michael Pittman. But do you have that speedster, that guy that takes the top off the defense? I think A.D. Mitchell can be that guy for Indianapolis. For continuing coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft, subscribe to Locked On NFL on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. One of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Your Ad Here

Locked On Colts - Daily Podcast On The Indianapolis Colts - Indianapolis Colts Pick Adonai Mitchell | 2024 NFL Draft Coverage

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.