Colts’ Adonai Mitchell explains why he chose jersey number 10

Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell (WO19) talks to the media during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell will be wearing a constant reminder of his NFL Draft slide as a rookie.

The Colts announced their rookie uniform numbers Friday, with Mitchell wearing No. 10. The second-round pick admitted that he had chosen the number because it represented the ten wide receivers that were selected before him in the draft.

AD Mitchell on why he chose No. 10: pic.twitter.com/64arlkVp0C

— Kevin Bowen (@KBowen1070) May 10, 2024

“Going through the whole process of the draft, seeing ten receivers go before me,” Mitchell explained. “I originally picked another number, but then I was just up late, just thinking about it. I couldn’t get it off my mind. I was like, ‘Yeah, bro, let me get 10.'”

Mitchell is not, however, taking the Amon-Ra St. Brown approach and memorizing the receivers that went before him.

“No. Nobody got a name, nobody got a face,” he said when asked if he could name the aforementioned ten receivers.

The Colts will like the drive they see from Mitchell. The former Texas wide receiver fell out of the first round after some expressed concerns about his attitude, but the Colts were not buying that narrative.

Mitchell certainly has the opportunity to earn a solid role in the Indianapolis offense. Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs emerged as their top two options in 2023, and there is plenty of room for Mitchell to offer depth, or maybe even more than that. If he can, it’s a safe bet that a few of those other ten picks will not look as good in retrospect.