Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

[Woodman]

Receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

The Buffalo Bills need a home-run hitter, a receiver who can stress defenses vertically to free up the intermediate routes for tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox and possesses the kind of speed to run by cornerbacks to catch rainbowlike throws from quarterback Josh Allen.

How about Texas’ Adonai Mitchell with the 28th pick?

The Bills’ decision to trade Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans on April 3 created a massive void in the passing game, as did – to a lesser extent – Gabe Davis signing with Jacksonville in free agency last month. The Bills signed Curtis Samuel, but one receiver and possibly two receivers should be in the offing during the draft (April 25-27).

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Mitchell checks the right boxes.

He runs fast. His 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine was third fastest among participating receivers.

He scores touchdowns. In his only season with the Longhorns, he had 11 scoring receptions, first in the Big 12 and tied for 11th nationally.

And he gets down the field. Among his 55 catches, seven gained at least 30 yards.

[Mad Max]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Mitchell checks the right boxes.

He runs fast. His 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine was third fastest among participating receivers.

He scores touchdowns. In his only season with the Longhorns, he had 11 scoring receptions, first in the Big 12 and tied for 11th nationally.

And he gets down the field. Among his 55 catches, seven gained at least 30 yards.

You just watched the ESPN piece on him didn’t you?

[Saratoga Slim]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Mitchell makes me nervous. Said at the combine he rarely runs routes at 100% because he likes to pace himself so he’s fresh at the end of the game. If you’re going to be our first round draft pick, I kind of expect you’ll get yourself in good enough shape to run routes all game.

Red warning flags.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

It's why drafting is so difficult because it is a projection of the player's growth.

Just for the Bills, we have guys like Pat Williams who, due to the lazy, take play off reputation in college, went undrafted. He took that humiliation to heart and never skipped workout, took a playoff in NFL for a 14 year career.

Then we have Marcel Dareus who had all the natural ability to play in NFL and toed the line of Nick Saban performed well in college, and yet never had the motivation to improve his game in NFL, even though his natural ability got him to a Pro Bowl. After he got paid, he tanked completely.

In my opinion, a lot of top college players may have topped their ability right there, especially in almost all pro schools like Alabama where what you see is what you'll get the best of them. That includes guys like Lawrence - not a bad player but maybe he's already near his ceiling. Think of guys like Sam Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield. On the other hand, guys like Allen, Brady never got to learn and max their potential in college, and they got to prove it in the pro.

So when we talk about the top 3 WRs in the draft, they are probably good enough already to play in NFL now. But how many of them can go another level up all the way to HoF type of players? If Mitchell go the Pat Williams route, can he be as good as the top 3 or even better? The statistics say someone will in the next tier. Getting the right one is always an educated guess. I don't know the Bills have the right eyes to single out the right one, even among the top 3. Playing odds (drafting multiple) might be the better approach.

[Bill Cody]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

I hope we take him

[Mad Max]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

It's why drafting is so difficult because it is a projection of the player's growth.

Just for the Bills, we have guys like Pat Williams who, due to the lazy, take play off reputation in college, went undrafted. He took that humiliation to heart and never skipped workout, took a playoff in NFL for a 14 year career.

Then we have Marcel Dareus who had all the natural ability to play in NFL and toed the line of Nick Saban performed well in college, and yet never had the motivation to improve his game in NFL, even though his natural ability got him to a Pro Bowl. After he got paid, he tanked completely.

In my opinion, a lot of top college players may have topped their ability right there, especially in almost all pro schools like Alabama where what you see is what you'll get the best of them. That includes guys like Lawrence - not a bad player but maybe he's already near his ceiling. Think of guys like Sam Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield. On the other hand, guys like Allen, Brady never got to learn and max their potential in college, and they got to prove it in the pro.

So when we talk about the top 3 WRs in the draft, they are probably good enough already to play in NFL now. But how many of them can go another level up all the way to HoF type of players? If Mitchell go the Pat Williams route, can he be as good as the top 3 or even better? The statistics say someone will in the next tier. Getting the right one is always an educated guess. I don't know the Bills have the right eyes to single out the right one, even among the top 3. Playing odds (drafting multiple) might be the better approach.

It’s equal parts science, intuition, and luck. Pretty much need to get all three.
Both the science and intuition line up for this armchair GM for Mitchell, Leggette and Thomas Jr. For the Bills in the first round.

They all three have excellent measureables and they all three sound like hungry, humble, intelligent and coachable humans. Not one sounds like a douchebag. So often the guy that sounds like a douchebag ends up being a douchebag in the league.

The Bills spoke with ten WR at the Combine included were my three preferences. So pick one and hope we get lucky afterwards. Can’t do any more (except draft two).

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Mitchell makes me nervous. Said at the combine he rarely runs routes at 100% because he likes to pace himself so he’s fresh at the end of the game. If you’re going to be our first round draft pick, I kind of expect you’ll get yourself in good enough shape to run routes all game.

Red warning flags.

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Then we have Marcel Dareus who had all the natural ability to play in NFL and toed the line of Nick Saban performed well in college, and yet never had the motivation to improve his game in NFL, even though his natural ability got him to a Pro Bowl. After he got paid, he tanked completely.

I'm still pissed that Denver didn't draft him.

[Ed]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

I know he's a popular name in mock drafts for the Bills, but I've heard enough questions/concerns about him that make me want to stay away. At least in the first round.

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

You just watched the ESPN piece on him didn’t you?

No.

He's just the one to most likely drop to 28th.

The top 4 we can all forget about unless we move up.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

I'm still pissed that Denver didn't draft him.

Position wise, Edge is the most valuable on defense. It's hard to double with different alignment like wide 9 to maximize top edge's strength where is for a DT, you can bet on 2 big guys blocking you every snap if they want to. Chiefs' Chris Jones is one of those who can play DT and DE. The one play he made against us is at DE position.

Of course there are exceptions. Aaron Donald routinely beats double teams. What can you do about that?

[Mad Max]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Position wise, Edge is the most valuable on defense. It's hard to double with different alignment like wide 9 to maximize top edge's strength where is for a DT, you can bet on 2 big guys blocking you every snap if they want to. Chiefs' Chris Jones is one of those who can play DT and DE. The one play he made against us is at DE position.

Of course there are exceptions. Aaron Donald routinely beats double teams. What can you do about that?

You’re right about Edge…and the exception.

There’s a DT in this years draft that I think has a great chance to be one of those rare exceptions.

Jer’Zhan Newton. If he’s there at 28 (unlikely but you never know) I’d be very conflicted if say Brian Thomas Jr. was also still there.

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Position wise, Edge is the most valuable on defense. It's hard to double with different alignment like wide 9 to maximize top edge's strength where is for a DT, you can bet on 2 big guys blocking you every snap if they want to. Chiefs' Chris Jones is one of those who can play DT and DE. The one play he made against us is at DE position.

Of course there are exceptions. Aaron Donald routinely beats double teams. What can you do about that?

Marcel Dareus why didn't you go to Denver still pissed about that.

[Woodman]

Re: Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell would check many boxes for Bills

Jer’Zhan Newton. If he’s there at 28 (unlikely but you never know) I’d be very conflicted if say Brian Thomas Jr. was also still there.

Either one would be more than acceptable.