Colts GM goes off over Adonai Mitchell character concerns

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 general manager Chris Ballard made his feelings very clear regarding anonymous critics of newly-drafted wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Mitchell was hit with the dreaded “character concerns” label coming out of Texas, which may have contributed to him falling to the 52nd overall pick. The Colts did not care that much, and Ballard made clear that, to him, a lot of the criticism is nonsense.

#Colts GM Chris Ballard just went OFF on anonymous sources tearing Texas WR Adonai Mitchell for character concerns.

“Put your name on it. We tear these young men down…. It’s crap. This is a good kid.”
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— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 27, 2024

“I read some of the bull—- that was said on TV, our typical league,” Ballard said Friday. “Unnamed sources, bad interview. That’s such bull—-. It f—ing is. It’s bull—-. Put your name on it. We tear these young men down, these are 21-, 22-year-old young men. If people out there can tell me they’re perfect in their lives — it’s crap. This is a good kid, and for those reports to come out, it’s bull—-.”

Mitchell was regarded by many as a first-round talent, so he did not fall to the middle of the second for no reason. There were even allegedly some concerns about how seriously Mitchell takes his diabetes and whether that impacts his mood.

Ballard and the Colts obviously are not big believers in that narrative. If they prove to be right about the young wide receiver, they will hugely benefit.