Adonai Mitchell took the opportunity in front of him to perform in the NFL Combine workouts. As a result, he will be one of the big winners from Saturday’s session when things eventually conclude.

Entering the combine, some of the biggest stories have included the players opting to not take part in the events of the week. Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and LSU’s Malik Nabers — a duo in the mix to be the top receivers selected — are not taking part in the on-field testing, and Harrison did not take part in the combine at all.

That was not the case for Mitchell. He has taken part in all of the major testing, and he’s boosting his stock in a major way.

After measuring at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Mitchell delivered an 11’4″ broad jump and 39.5″ vertical. He added to those numbers with a massive 4.35 time in the 40-yard dash.

How does that stack up with the rest of the NFL? According to Warren Sharp, those numbers make Mitchell just the second WR since 2015 to measure at least 6-foot-2, weigh at least 205 pounds and run a 4.35 or less.

The other is former Ole Miss star DK Metcalf, a 2-time Pro Bowler with over 5,300 receiving yards in 5 NFL seasons.

To fully understand Mitchell’s 40-yard time, the NFL overlaid his performance with the time of former Alabama star Julio Jones (4.42) and former Ole Miss star AJ Brown (4.49). Mitchell beats their times by a full stride:

What it means for Mitchell

Per most projections, there is a trio of wide receivers expected to come off the board early. That group is made up of Harrison, Nabers and Washington star Rome Odunze with all 3 projected as top-10 picks in Daniel Jeremiah’s latest mock draft for NFL.com.

LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr. is projected by Jeremiah as the next WR off the board at No. 23 overall while Mitchell is the 5th receiver selected at No. 26. Fans can track the latest NFL Draft odds with SDS’s best online sportsbooks.

At the very least, Mitchell’s performance should solidify his stock as a first-round lock, but he could push even higher. And, if he does come off the board toward the end of the round, look for Mitchell to be one of the best value picks in the position for the 2024 NFL season.

It serves as a reminder that sometimes coming off the board near the top of the first round is not always best for young players. Being selected later in the first round could set Mitchell up for immediate success, and he showed at the combine he has all the tools needed to be a playmaker in the NFL.