Both of Texas’s standout receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, have been selected before the conclusion of the second round.
On Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the third Texas football player chosen is junior wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. The Indianapolis Colts enhance their growing receiving unit by adding Mitchell, a promising young talent at wide receiver, with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the draft.
Colts steal Texas football WR Adonai Mitchell late in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft
Originally projected by many draft analysts to be chosen late in the first round of the 2024 draft, Mitchell slipped to the middle of the second round on April 26. He became the fourth receiver taken in the second round of the 2024 draft.
Given Mitchell’s significant drop in the draft, the Colts and head coach Shane Steichen are securing a substantial steal with their second pick of the 2024 draft.
Mitchell marks the fifth Longhorns player selected in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft. He also joins Xavier Worthy, the Kansas City Chiefs’ first-round pick (28th overall), as the second Texas receiver drafted in the first two rounds. This marks the first instance in program history where the Longhorns had two wide receivers chosen in the top 60 picks of the NFL Draft.
Mitchell transferred to Texas from the Georgia Bulldogs before the 2023 season, and he made a significant impact during his tenure with the Longhorns. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 pounds, the Missouri City native had a standout 2023 season, recording 55 receptions for 845 receiving yards and 11 touchdown catches.
Mitchell showcased exceptional reliability as a receiver in the Power Five conference last season, boasting an impressive record as the sole wide receiver without a drop against Power Five opponents, according to SIS Data Hub.
Despite his size, Mitchell demonstrates remarkable agility and speed on the field. His performance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis was outstanding, clocking in at under 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and achieving the top broad jump among all wide receivers at 11 feet 4 inches.
When it comes to route running, body control, and making contested catches, Mitchell ranks among the top wideouts in this year’s draft class. His proficiency as a boundary receiver aligns well with the demands of the modern NFL.
Mitchell joins a Colts receiving corps and offense that features several emerging talents. Anthony Richardson, the former Florida Gators quarterback, was showcasing a promising rookie season for the Colts until an injury cut it short.
With Mitchell joining the Colts’ receiving corps, Richardson gains another reliable young target in the passing game. The potential pairing of former USC Trojan Michael Pittman Jr. and Mitchell as the Colts’ top two receivers has the makings of something truly exceptional in the AFC South for the foreseeable future.