PHILADELPHIA—To play cornerback in the NFL, you have to have a certain mindset. You need to be confident that you can shut down the player across from you throughout the game and rebound if you do give up a big play. New Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is not short of that confidence. Heading into the NFL combine in Indianapolis, Mitchell wanted to post a good 40-yard dash time, needing to stand out in front of all the teams assembled to watch the workouts. Mitchell felt good about his prospects of obtaining a good time.
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“I feel that’s one of my strengths,” Mitchell said about his speed at the combine. “I have good genes from my mom, dad, and grandmom. I didn’t come to be mediocre. I came to break records.”
Mitchell went on to post a 4.33 40-yard dash, the fastest time among the defensive backs who worked out. For Mitchell, statements like that are not uncommon, feeling as if he has a chip on his shoulder that he developed coming out of Williston, Fla., a town with a population of 2,980 people that is 20 minutes away from the University of Florida.
“I feel like for my whole life, I’ve just been trying to demand respect. Coming from a small town and coming from a small college, I’ve just wanted to demand that respect. I did that during my college career and the pre-draft process.”
That confidence was also a reason why the Eagles selected him with the 22nd overall pick Thursday night during the first-round round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Mitchell touted as one of the best cornerbacks in this year’s draft class, fell down the board as teams at the top began to focus on the offensive side of the ball.
With Mitchell and Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold on the board, the Eagles decided to go with Mitchell, making him the first cornerback the team has taken in the first round since Lito Sheppard’s name was submitted on the draft card in 2002. Mitchell felt that it was fate that he wound up with the Eagles.
“I feel like everything happens for a reason,” Mitchell said. I’m in the right fit and with the right organization right now, so I feel good. I’m excited, and I’m ready to get to work.”
In his junior season at Toledo, Mitchell had an interception, 18 pass breakups, 41 tackles, and two tackles for loss, showcasing not only his ability to be disruptive and limit opposing receivers downfield but also his willingness to help in the run game. Mitchell appears destined to play on the outside in the future, spots currently occupied by Darius Slay and James Bradberry. According to Pro Football Focus, Mitchell spent 677 snaps as an outside cornerback compared to 55 in the slot. For Mitchell, his initial placement does not matter to him.
“I feel like I can come in and play inside and outside,” Mitchell said. “I have some vets in front of me that I can learn from. Darius Slay is someone I really model my game after, and there is James Bradberry. It doesn’t matter where I play. I just want to help the team.”
Mitchell’s addition makes him the 13th player on the team’s roster listed as a cornerback. In addition to Slay and Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, Isaiah Rodgers Sr., Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe, Zech McPhearson, and Tyler Hall are all among the players who are vying for significant playing time next season. Long-term, Slay and Bradberry’s contracts end after the 2025 season, meaning Mitchell could take over for one of them in a couple of years.
For general manager Howie Roseman, it will come down to the competitions during OTA practices and training camp to see who will stay, with Roseman saying it is a good problem for the team to have.
“I think when you talk about corners, O-linemen, and D-linemen, you can never have enough of those guys,” Roseman said. “Throughout the course of the season, having guys that can cover people is so important. Obviously, we’ve been in a position over the past few years where we haven’t had enough of those guys, whether that’s through injury or just kind of running out of guys towards the end of the season.”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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