Steelers Selecting Adonai Mitchell Would Give Them A 1-2 Punch That Teams Will Struggle To Defend Down The Field

Leading up to the 2024 NFL Draft starting on April 25th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up... 

Adonai Mitchell (Wide Receiver), LSU, Junior

Adonai Mitchell stands in at 6'2" tall, weighing 205lbs, and has an all-around skill set that will be heavily coveted by the majority of the NFL. 

Steelers Overview

Mitchell has a very good blend of size, speed, and fluidity that allows him to create separation throughout all levels of the field. He is definitely more of a straight line runner than a quick twitch route runner that will shake defenders in and out of breaks, but that skill set also makes him a threat to create big plays down the field on any snap. Consistency in many facets will ultimately determine how high of a ceiling Mitchell reaches in his NFL career. 

Pros:

- 4.34 speed

- Good height and length 

- Fluid mover, not labored getting in and out of breaks

- Good red zone target

- High points the ball well when he gets position down the field

- Ability to bring in passes outside his frame with ease

- Can be a weapon after the catch 

- Has shown great foot quickness

Cons:

- Consistency, whether it be his route running or blocking he has showed different levels of intensity from game to game

- Ability to beat press coverage needs to improve, with a long frame defenders have gotten in his chest off of the line

- Makes simple catches harder than they need to be

- Will give up body position down the field at times with physical defenders

Route Running and Separation

Mitchell runs with great fluidity throughout his entire route, as his long strides don't effect his ability to stay controlled throughout. A lot of his separation comes down the field that takes advantage of his ability to subtly change direction without breaking stride, as opposed to having him throttle it down and change direction. In the right offense, his ability to separate can be maximized by making sure he gets up to speed to put stress on defenders. He did run a rather full route tree, but he will need to continue to work on routes that require quick cuts as he continues to grow as a receiver in the NFL. 

Athleticism and RAC

No one around the league will question Mitchell's athletic ability. He is one of the better athletes in the class, and when you pair that with his size and length, he becomes a very deadly receiving option down the field. Once the ball is in his hands, he is hard to bring down as he runs with authority, which helps him break through most arm tackles. He isn't going to be someone who consistently gets thrown the ball at or behind the line of scrimmage due to him being best with a clear runway getting up to speed, but he can still take short throws all the way if given a little room. 

IQ and Hands

Since he played at two top level programs, Georgia and Texas, and has a lot of experience despite playing only three years, Mitchell's football IQ is higher than most underclassmen coming out in the draft early. Consistency in his game can improve as he gets older as well, as he will need to put more focus on putting in effort every down and every game. Also, Mitchell should also grow as a pass catcher by focusing more on simple catches that sometimes he makes look difficult. He has the ability to make crazy catches outside his frame, but the simple catches he needs to make sure he brings in every time as well. 

NFL Comparison - George Pickens

Now, Mitchell is a little more polished than Pickens was coming out of college, and he has a little bit more top end speed. However, they both are very fluid route runners that often rely on their ability to make difficult contested catches over their opponents with their great length and athleticism. 

Draft Projection - Late First / Early Second Round Pick

This is a very good wide receiver class, especially at the top. Even with that, Mitchell is very likely going to be selected high in this draft as he will continue to impress NFL teams throughout the pre-draft process.