Colts' Adonai Mitchell Has Pressure to Improve

Mitchell's numbers from his rookie year aren't pretty, hauling in 23 of 55 targets for a low-level catch percentage of 41.8, a metric that isn't acceptable for an NFL receiver, regardless of the QB situation at hand.

The good news for Mitchell is he's incredibly talented, showcasing abilities to win deep, run crisp routes, and make defensive backs look ridiculous at times with solid technical prowess.

Initially, Mitchell was drafted to push Pierce after the former Cincinnati Bengals deep threat looked a bit underwhelming in his first two years. However, Mitchell looked behind the eight ball while Pierce broke out with a league-leading 22.3 yards per catch, 824 receiving yards, 32 first downs, and seven touchdowns.

Mitchell will be counted on for far more than what he dealt out during his rookie year. Currently Mitchell is the WR4 behind Pittman, Downs, and Pierce, but is incredibly gifted and can be an explosive offensive weapon in year two.

While it can't be the sole blame for Mitchell's rough rookie year, the quarterback play (whether Richardson or Daniel Jones) must be more consistent, combined with Mitchell improving as a professional.

Mitchell has immense potential in Shane Steichen's offense, especially given the attention that the aforementioned pass-catchers will demand, along with a potent ground attack featuring superstar running back Jonathan Taylor, which will command a lot of defensive attention on every down.

2025 is a huge year for the squad and Mitchell, with plenty of pressure mounting combined with never-ending expectations for success. Let's see how Mitchell adjusts to 2025 after having his first taste of NFL experience with plenty of struggles he can learn from.

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