The Colts’ rookie wideout showed elite ability to separate this past season, but it’s a matter of consistency and focus.
According to PFF, Indianapolis Colts soon-to-be 2nd-year wideout AD Mitchell has been listed as their ‘early 2025 breakout candidate’ for next season:
Indianapolis Colts: WR Adonai Mitchell
Colts receivers were responsible for the 10th-worst drop rate this past year, and Mitchell (14.8% drop rate) was a major culprit. But the Texas product actually got open a substantial amount, as reflected by his 75th-percentile separation rate and 96th-percentile separation percentage against single coverage. Even when he was open, either drops or overthrows seemed to inexplicably plague Mitchell, but his route-running talent is too great to abandon hope.
The Colts’ 2nd round pick (#52 overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft showed some obvious flashes as a rookie—particularly with his ability to separate downfield at a listed 6’2,” 205 pounds and seemingly be open at times:
AD Mitchell ranked 1st in the NFL in Average Separation Score heading into week 10
Look how WIDE OPEN he is on all of these receptions..
He set career highs in:
➖Snap Percentage (94%)
➖Receptions (6)
➖Yards (71)..he also ranks 1st in the NFL in Target Rate Vs. Man (52.4%) pic.twitter.com/rTGA6HwdlZ
— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) November 11, 2024
6’4 WRs who run a 4.3 40 should NOT be able to create separation the way AD Mitchell does pic.twitter.com/6xfZALKIFz
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) August 11, 2024
full speed motion for Adonai Mitchell
basically two man concept downfield. Four yards of separation for AD when he breaks it back towards the sideline.
low throw. completion. gain of 14 pic.twitter.com/FWktx11k0r
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) October 21, 2024
AD Mitchell is having such a great bad rookie season. No touchdowns. Horrific 42.6% catch rate. 312 yards in 16 games. And yet, the man is always open. Always. Open fucking always.
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) December 30, 2024
However, now, it just a matter of consistency (which was previously indicated by his wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne) and putting it all together headed into his sophomore campaign—as Mitchell suffered from drops, shying away from physical contact, and running out his receiving routes at times during this past up-and-down debut season.
Although in fairness, his Colts starting quarterbacks didn’t always deliver the ball to him accurately and on time—when he did occasionally flash open against opposing coverage.
AD Mitchell with 55 targets, 23 catches on the season.
That is an awful ratio.
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) January 5, 2025
He arguably may have also been a little too ‘casual’ with some of his answers to the media following critical in-game mishaps—much like another younger Colts teammate this past year.
Mitchell admittedly is looking to better meet his ‘personal expectations’ and be more of a ‘professional’ headed into Year 2—which hopefully runs hand-in-hand with his natural maturation, another year older and having already had his rookie season to reference and go through some initial growing pains.
If he can work hard, focus on consistency, and with another offseason and training camp under his belt in both Shane Steichen’s offense and with 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson for improved chemistry purposes, and it’s quite possible that Mitchell could break out in 2025—given his elite ability to separate and get open downfield.
