The NFL draft can be a brutal process for some prospects as their entire lives are dissected in front of the world. Teams have tiny margins for error when deciding who to select, so the nitpicking about character and health matters.
An NFL scout recently shared concerns about Texas Longhorns wide receiver Adonai Mitchell’s outlook.
According to Go Long TD’s Bob McGinn, two NFL scouts revealed that Mitchell is viewed as a “boom or bust guy” because of his maturity. The junior was referred to as “abrasive” and struggled to pay attention due to his battle with Type 1 diabetes.
The first source went so far as to say Mitchell can be “almost uncoachable.”
Mitchell’s character concerns aren’t necessarily new, as most online evaluators have noticed that he doesn’t always run routes hard or finish plays when he’s the back-side option in Texas’ read-heavy attack. Some of those instances are misguided, as it’s not abnormal to see back-side playmakers stand in place because the ball is never coming their way. But it’s odd for untrained eyes, especially those used to watching NFL action, where this is never the case.
His battle with Type 1 diabetes may or may not be a big deal. As the scout said, when Mitchell is taking care of himself and tending to his needs, his energy, effort, and talent are that of a superstar. Other NFLers have dealt with this before, most notably and recently, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews.
Mitchell’s apparent immaturity regarding his health must be addressed immediately for him to blossom at the next level. He was a dynamic threat at Georgia and Texas before setting the NFL combine on fire. He blazed a 4.35 40-yard dash at 6’2″, 205 pounds, confirming he’s a freak athlete
Now, he must harness his abilities into consistent production. He set career highs in 2023 with 55 catches, 845 yards and 11 scores. However, those aren’t the numbers you’d expect from a possible NFL WR1.
Of course, some of those limited numbers come from a scheme unwilling to force any single one of the Longhorns’ playmakers the ball. Mitchell is a great route-runner, and his speed is undeniable. He makes big plays look effortless, but the lack of volume is concerning.
Teams at the back end of the first round should remain interested in Mitchell. Buffalo, Kansas City, and Arizona would make sense for him, depending on what the Cardinals do with the fourth overall pick.