An eye-opening wide receiver and an emerging tight are two underrated sleepers for the Indianapolis Colts in the upcoming 2024 NFL season. Adonai Mitchell has a chip on his shoulder, while Jelani Woods must prove that his availability is part of his Sunday NFL package.
Mitchell waited until pick No. 52 before his name rang out on the 2024 NFL Draft stage. That made him wide receiver No. 11 off the board. However, Mitchell told Colts.com he believes many teams made mistakes.
“It's just the way things go,” Mitchell said. “At the end of the day, people were chosen before me and that's just the reality of it. My job now is to make them pay and to bring the best version of me every day to the Indianapolis Colts.”
For Woods, it's a matter of shaking free from hamstring injuries that cost him the entire 2023 season after showing promise as a rookie.
“My rookie year, I could tell I was limited with certain stuff, like planting and everything like that,” Woods noted. “And now I feel like I'm getting out of my breaks way faster. I feel like I have more of a receiver dynamic compared to the true tight end.”
With that said, here's why both Mitchell and Woods are two Colts underrated sleepers who could break out in 2024.
Adonai Mitchell
If there's any doubt whether Adonai Mitchell can erase the draft snub, a quick check of the Colts depth chart shows he's already pushing hard for a starting position. While he'll have to overcome Alec Pierce, he'll likely will find snaps in situational packages.
Mitchell stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds. That's in the sweet spot for NFL wide receivers. Add in a 4.34 time in the 40 and a 39.5 vertical leap, and the Colts have a potential NFL star.
Of course, the difference between star and stargazer in the NFL typically revolves around the little things. But Mitchell apparently has intangibles, too. And he was heady and shifty enough to rack up 11 touchdown catches for the University of Texas in 2023.
Also, Mitchell has shown flashes of the golden skill in NFL circles: separation.
Plus, it's a terrific environment for Mitchell. The Colts boast an near-elite level receiver in Michael Pittman Jr. on the other side of the formation. And they have a high-potential quarterback in Anthony Richardson. If the Colts' offense spends time at the touchdown buffet in 2024, it's likely Mitchell will get his turn at the table.
Jelani Woods
If 2022 brought out the word “potential” for Jelani Woods, the 2023 season tucked it away beneath the stadium.
Woods caught 25 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games in 2022, which are nice numbers for a rookie. But Woods never reached the playing surface in 2023, so it's all about overcoming in 2024.
Feeling better and displaying confidence, Woods told Colts.com he's ready to rock: “I know what I can do. I know how I can help the offense, and can be a pivotal point in the offense, and I'm just trying to show that and earn the respect back, earn my spot back.”
But the thing that separates Woods from many other tight ends is a 6-7, 253-pound frame with 4.61 speed in the 40, which is above average for an NFL tight end.
And if Woods' workout protocol pays dividends, he could turn the page. Woods worked tirelessly to strengthen his hamstrings and quad muscles. And, as a bonus, the targeted work appears to have increased his quickness.
“I feel better really, because I'm starting to know my body really well and creating a routine daily to just keep building myself,” he said.
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