CHAOS: Why the Rams Replied Brandon Beane Brutally and also not interested in drafting Adonai Mitchell

Although he has upside and is a very good draft prospect, some doubt his commitment to the game.
It’s never too late to look at guys the Los Angeles Rams might consider in the rapidly coming NFL Draft. Is Texas wide receiver Adonai Mitchell the best player the Rams could have? He would seem to be going in the early rounds of the next draft at this point. PFF ranks him as prospect number five for wide receivers. As always, we’ll point out that estimates are subject to change and that there are some concerns about him giving it his all (more on that later). In spite of any possible reservations, it is expected that he will be selected this year.
Watching any of Mitchell’s highlights will make it clear why he is being considered as a possible first-round pick. But it goes beyond only the eye test, since it appears he has some statistical evidence to support it.

Mitchell and Julio Jones have comparable Relative Athletic Scores, according to Blaine Grisak. Les Snead was a member of the Atlanta Falcons’ organization at the time of Jones’ draft draft, according to Grisak in that same article. Is Snead interested in giving Jones’ comp player a try? In the end, Jones proved to be a very valuable asset to the Falcons.

The Rams can trade up or down in the draft and have an abundance of options at their disposal. Might the Rams select a quarterback early in the draft if Los Angeles chooses not to select one? The Rams scored in the playoff game of last year, but they had trouble scoring touchdowns in the early half of the game. Is Michell the kind of NFL player who has the catch radius to be a reliable threat in the end zone? Any squad may add that kind of skill set.

Although there may be plenty to be thrilled about with this player, Mitchell would undoubtedly be selected in the first round if all went according to plan, and I’m not sure if that is how people view him (it’s all subjective). I’ve also seen George Pickens, the receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, compared to Mitchell (via NFL.com).
Although Pickens has proven to be a very talented player in the NFL, he has not been without controversy. He received some notice the previous year for failing to block a play. No club wants to deal with a narrative like that. But you can’t ignore the talent.
To be fair, Mitchell may not resemble Pickens at all, and the comparison may be incorrect. But, they also mention this in Mitchell’s NFL.com profile:

“His urgency and willingness to work on the unpolished areas of his craft could be the difference between becoming a WR2 or WR1.”

Again, that statement may not be true, but it is there, and since NFL.com is publishing it, I assume that NFL staff members and teams are seeing them and/or making their own judgments. If the aforementioned assertion is accurate, then Mitchell’s desire to improve rather than his skill is what matters.
The Rams frequently mention that they are looking for players who have “the right stuff,” and I believe it implies that they are looking for individuals who have an innate drive to keep getting better. Though players like Aaron Donald set the standard, the desire to be the best version of themselves is something that many athletes have deep down. Being at your best is a deliberate choice.
I don’t think the Rams will pick Mitchell if they doubt his drive to get better. They undoubtedly have additional needs. But if Mitchell meets LA’s requirements and/or if LA determines that the benefit justifies the risk, I can’t help but wonder what kind of offensive output Mitchell could have when he plays off of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. I can’t help but picture Mitchell bringing in field goals from Matthew Stafford.

There is talent. I guess I’ll be interested in seeing if he has what it takes to succeed in the NFL, whether or not he ends up with the Rams. Let’s start by determining where and whether the young player is drafted. There’s no doubt the Rams will be tuning in.