Sitting a surprising 7-2 at the deadline, the Colts have been connected to adding help at cornerback and edge rusher by today’s trade endpoint. But Indianapolis also could deal an asset as a seller.
The team has not seen Adonai Mitchell carve out a big role in its offense, minus a memorable fill-in effort in Los Angeles, this season. Teams are monitoring the 2024 second-round pick in a potential deal, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Mitchell only has two receptions since the start of October, seeing both Alec Pierce and Josh Downs play in front of him as Michael Pittman Jr. complementary pieces. Tyler Warren has also become an immediate contributor, while Mitchell — chosen 52nd overall last year — has been quiet for the AFC South leaders.
Ninety-six of Mitchell’s 152 yards came in a three-catch game in L.A., but the Texas and Georgia product following Jonathan Taylor‘s 2024 goal-line drop sequence (among Colts to commit this bizarre blunder) also came in a game in which a Mitchell blocking infraction negated a Taylor touchdown. The Colts narrowly lost, and they have their Nos. 2 and 3 wideouts back in uniform after each missed time earlier this season. That has relegated Taylor to the periphery.
That said, the Colts giving up so early on a second-round WR — who almost definitely would not fetch nearly that much in a trade — would be surprising. Pittman also battled a back injury last season. Mitchell represents an important depth piece for Indy, which did not have much of a chance to evaluate him last year due to Anthony Richardson‘s accuracy-challenged season. Still, Mitchell produced a 23-catch, 312-yard rookie season. He competed with Pierce for a starting spot last year; while Pierce has been a far more important contributor, Mitchell still started seven games last year.
It would be out of character for the Colts to cut the cord early, but teams appear to be asking about such a move. Mitchell’s rookie contract runs through the 2027 season. If the Colts were to make a surprising trade here, they have special-teamer Ashton Dulin and rookie fifth-rounder Anthony Gould rounding out their receiving corps.