One of my favorite things to do every offseason is to go back and compare my post-draft notes on the Eagles’ rookies with how they actually looked when they got on the field. It’s a fun blend of film study, self-evaluation, and a check on how well certain traits really translate to the NFL. I won’t be writing full scouting reports here, as I did that after the draft. This series is more about reviewing last year’s film in comparison to my pre-draft thoughts. Did the player perform as expected? Did anything
surprise me? And what do I think comes next? At the end of each article, I’ll give my updated outlook for that player in the future.
Quinyon Mitchell
We have to start with cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. If you want to read the entire scouting report from last year, it is here! If you just want the summary, this was what I said about the player at the end of my scouting report:
My goodness, I love this pick. Quinyon Mitchell is an elite talent, and if he played at Alabama instead of Toledo, I think he would have been a surefire top-15 pick. You don’t get many corners who run like he does, can play the ball in the air, and move as fluidly. He has the potential to be an elite cornerback as he has all the tools that you want to see from a top prospect.
There are not any real weaknesses to his game, and I honestly believe he only fell out of the top 20 because he played at Toledo and not at a big school. The only knock on him I have is that I didn’t see him press much and he did play with a lot of cushion, but he showed at the Senior Bowl that he can do this if asked.
In terms of scheme fit, he is a match made in heaven for Vic Fangio’s defense. You can line him up outside and he should be able to play one-on-one coverage on isolated receivers and has the length to carry receivers vertically down the field. He will love playing off-coverage where he can show off his click-and-close speed and he shows outstanding route recognition in zone coverage already, which is something very important in this defense. What stands out about Mitchell’s game, is how comfortable he is when the ball is in the air. A lot of recent draft busts at cornerback have been because teams have over drafted fantastic athletes who can’t compete at the catch point. Mitchell will not have this issue.
Fangio’s defense is complicated, and there will be a learning curve as there is with all rookie cornerbacks, but I would be disappointed if Mitchell is not starting the vast majority of games this year. I think he can make an impact on this defense next year as a starting outside corner opposite Darius Slay. Long-term, he has the potential to be one of the very best at this position if he can translate his current game to Fangio’s defense.
One of my favorite picks in the draft, Quinyon Mitchell felt like a steal the moment the Eagles called his name. After rewatching a lot of his rookie snaps, I think most of what stood out pre-draft held up and he probably exceeded expectations.
Things I expected
“Quinyon Mitchell is an elite talent… You don’t get many corners who run like he does, can play the ball in the air, and move as fluidly.”
That speed and fluidity showed up right away. Mitchell looked totally at ease mirroring NFL receivers and rarely lost at the catch point. Even in Year 1, his athletic profile looked like it belonged in the top tier of NFL corners. He has rare movement traits.
10) There's nothing better than seeing the 2 young cornerbacks making a play. DeJean does a great job getting depth from the flat and making this throw harder. Quinyon does a ridiculous job covering Zay Flowers all the way across the formation. The two of them are outstanding… pic.twitter.com/7VTr5JhDA8
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) December 2, 2024
“He will love playing off-coverage where he can show off his click-and-close speed and… outstanding route recognition in zone.”
This part of the projection was pretty straight forward. In Fangio’s system, Mitchell excelled from depth, reading concepts, breaking on routes with conviction, and disrupting timing windows. His ability to read and react was one of the most pro-ready aspects of his game and it showed up on film.
14) Let's end with Quinyon Mitchell's interception. What a ridiculous play. He's in one-on-one coverage and gets himself in perfect position. Then goes up and makes the play! I can't believe the Eagles ended up with him and Cooper DeJean in the same draft. What a ridiculous… pic.twitter.com/dYBwHnYOSG
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) January 28, 2025
“What stands out about Mitchell’s game is how comfortable he is when the ball is in the air.”
That poise at the catch point helped him avoid rookie mistakes that often plague athletic corners. Although he struggled to intercept the football early on in the season, he didn’t have an issue knocking the ball away and he wasn’t targeted on 50/50 balls very often. He had a few issues, as we will get too, but nothing major.
3) Interesting pressure look from the Eagles that we've seen of late. Baun is the EDGE but drops out and so does the EDGE opposite, with Dean becoming the 4th rusher. The Cowboys protection holds up, but Quinyon Mitchell prevents the completion. Quinyon had an awesome game.… pic.twitter.com/VHW4uRiuQg
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) November 12, 2024
He has the potential to be an elite cornerback as he has all the tools that you want to see from a top prospect.
He’s already a top pro and looks like he will become an elite cornerback!
Things That Surprised Me
“Fangio’s defense is complicated, and there will be a learning curve as there is with all rookie cornerbacks.”
“I would be disappointed if Mitchell is not starting the vast majority of games this year.”
I thought he’d need a few weeks to adjust to the NFL’s complexity (especially in a system as complicated as Fangio’s) but Mitchell looked NFL-ready immediately. He didn’t just “win” a starting role; he played like a veteran all season long. The mental side of his game developed even faster than I expected. He was top from day 1...
Eagles Defense All22 thread vs. Packers. 1) I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed Quinyon Mitchell's performance. Rookie CBs always seem to struggle, but he played extremely well. The ability to turn and run with Watson here and the way he just slightly leans into him to… pic.twitter.com/XULddvJXXD
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) September 9, 2024
“The only knock on him I have is that I didn’t see him press much and he did play with a lot of cushion…”
That was true based on the college tape, but he quickly proved that press coverage wasn’t a real concern. Even in tight alignments, he rarely looked overwhelmed. I don’t think he pressed very much last year but it wasn’t a concern that showed up in his film.
9) Big fan of this 3rd down call too. Quarter-quarter-half which gives Quinyon Mitchell the freedom too aggressively press at the LOS and he does it so well! His depth is awesome and it helps take away the throw over this head too. He's so good already.
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) November 5, 2024
Nothing else to say… pic.twitter.com/12SNKqtYKE
Questions I Still Have
Mitchell’s rookie year was outstanding, but there are always going to be changes every year.
- Will he be asked to change sides more after the release of Darius Slay? Fangio’s defense rarely ever asks a cornerback to shadow the opposing receiver, but will he ask Quinyon to play on both sides next year to play opposite the opponents best receiver?
- How will he handle communicating with a new safety? A huge part of playing cornerback in Fangio’s system is communicating with others in the secondary. Quinyon will likely be lining up next to rookie Andrew Mukuba next year, and this will bring fresh challenges.
- Can he intercept more passes? The next step is developing into a playmaker — a corner who consistently forces turnovers. He didn’t have a single interception in the regular season last year. This is an area I still think he can get better at.
4) This is a tough one for Quinyon. I don't think he does a whole lot wrong. He's in a good position, but I do think his play on the football could be better. If you don't get your head around, you need to play through the receiver's hands better than he does here. It's not a… pic.twitter.com/C3MDWwauI1
— Jonny Page (@JonnyPage9) December 30, 2024
The Future
Well, I am hardly going to take a victory lap on Quinyon Mitchell. He looked like a top-tier talent in college, and he carried that over with ease in his rookie year. If anything, I undersold how quickly he’d adapt to the NFL level, especially given my concerns about the transition into Fangio’s scheme. I said that longer term, I think he could be up there at the very best of his position, and I stand by that take.
I see no reason to change my opinion on what I said above. I expect Quinyon Mitchell to be recognised as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL by the end of this season. I do think this season will present new challenges for Quinyon to deal with, though. For Quinyon to be recognised as one of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL, rightly or wrongly, I think he will have to get better at picking passes off at the catch point. Fair or not, picks matter when it comes to reputation.
Overall, this was an exceptionally good first season at an extremely difficult position to play as a rookie. Yet, I still think the best is yet to come.
Thank you for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and ask any questions. If you enjoyed this piece, you can find more of my work and podcast here.
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