2019 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings WR Dillon Mitchell Scouting Report

Player Name: Dillon Mitchell

H/W: 6’1 197

Position: Wide Receiver

School / Class: Oregon / Junior

Measureables: 4.46 40, 12 bench press, 36.5” vertical jump, 10’2” broad jump, 4.29 20 shuttle

Drafted to: Minnesota Vikings

The Tape

2018 vs Michigan State

2018 vs Stanford

2018 vs Cal

2017 vs Arizona State

Career Highlights

Statistics

Spider Chart

Strengths

• Athleticism - Mitchell has great lateral agility on the underneath and medium routes. He can make defenders miss with it. A receiver that is best utilized in space for right now until he develops a proper route tree. Has decent burst off the line to get space to make the reception. Underrated speed. Fluid hips are his secret weapon.
• Versatility - Has experience in playing both outside and in the slot for the Ducks. A team with a creative offensive coordinator can exploit the defense with his skillset.
• Football IQ - Mitchell isn’t the best athlete at receiver so he has to use guile and wits to set up defenders in the short and intermediate game. He’s great at creating just enough separation to make the catch. YAC is a big deal for him and has led to a majority of his touchdowns.
• Blocking - He’s a willing blocker that engages the defensive back until the play is over or well beyond him.
• Production - Junior season was immense as he led the team in every receiving category by a distant margin. He had more receptions than the next three receivers COMBINED.

Weaknesses

• Drops - A ton of them. Backbreaking ones at times. He needs to fix the drop issue otherwise he won’t be long for the league. Frequently seen trying to make the play before he has the ball in his hands.
• Physicality - The bench press number is glaring. He can easily get stopped up by a defensive back playing press coverage. Once he gets locked down, it’s hard for him to let loose due to a lack of play strength.
• Ball skills - Has issues with tracking the ball and isn’t the most explosive of athletes to scare opposing defensive backs into playing off coverage. Loses sight of the ball and frankly, is lucky to catch it at times.
• Deep speed - Long strider that takes some time to get going on deep routes like the nine or deep post. Won’t blow by anyone thus the need to create separation in the first place. Better suited for short and intermediate routes.

How he fits the Minnesota Vikings

Mitchell would fit in immediately as the WR3 behind stars Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. He would do well to learn from Thielen as he is the preeminent route runner in the league. Mitchell likely won’t be a superstar but he’ll be serviceable in his role as the third banana behind the aforementioned big league hitters. The only competition he is reportedly against is first round bust Laquon Treadwell, who could be cut at the end of the roster cutdown deadline in September. While Diggs and Thielen terrorize opposing defensive backs deep, Mitchell can do work in the short and intermediate game.

Player Comp: Nelson Agholor WR Philadelphia Eagles / Mohamed Sanu WR Atlanta Falcons / Jeremy Maclin retired WR

Bonus content

Some high praise from an NBA legend and Memphis Head Coach Penny Hardaway (he mentored DM as both are Memphis natives)

Dillon Mitchell’s father has some strong words for those who were not so bright about Dillon’s future

Noted draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Vikings got a steal

PFF has some grades for DM (hint: it’s not pleasant)

More PFF grades:

Minicamp stuff!