It was no secret that the Philadelphia Eagles wanted to select a cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Eagles made the team’s interest in this year’s cornerback class public given all of their reported 30 visits.
Many believed Philadelphia would have had to trade up in the first round to land a player such as Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Yet, they were able to stick at No. 22 and select Mitchell without having to make a move up the draft board.
Analyzing Quinyon Mitchell’s Fit in Philadelphia
While Philadelphia’s cornerback depth chart looks strong from the outside with names such as Darius Slay, James Bradberry, and Kelee Ringo, the secondary struggled mightily. After an embarrassing end to last season, the Eagles general manager knew it was time for a change.
The Eagles prioritized signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency, hoping to bring some swagger back to Philadelphia’s secondary. Now the addition of Mitchell will help bring that charisma and fight to the cornerback position as well.
One of the concerns with Mitchell was the level of competition that he faced at Toledo, yet he answered all of those questions with his performance at the Senior Bowl. Mitchell will bring much-needed physicality and ball-hawking skills to Philadelphia’s secondary.
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Quinyon Mitchell
Pro Football Network Draft Analyst Ian Cummings discussed Mitchell’s skillset in his scouting report of Philadelphia’s newest addition.
“Mitchell’s tape was already superb, and his Senior Bowl showing only reaffirmed his rare talent while also checking more boxes on the mechanical side.”
“At his peak, Mitchell can be an invaluable ball-hawk and turnover generator for an NFL defense with all-encompassing stylistic flexibility in coverage and the versatility to play the boundary or the slot.”
Quinyon Mitchell Should Be a Cornerstone for Philadelphia’s Defense
The Eagles have clearly focused on securing the long-term future of the team’s offense this offseason. Roseman was aggressive in securing contract extensions with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson this offseason.
The same can’t be said about Philadelphia’s defense, given the team’s lack of weapons on that side of the ball. Yet, that could change following the addition of Mitchell in the 2024 NFL Draft. Mitchell is the first cornerback the Eagles have selected in the first round since 2002.
Even Dallas Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons talked about how much he loved Mitchell as a prospect … which led to a hilarious moment after the former Toledo cornerback was selected by the Eagles on Thursday night.
Micah Parsons "utterly disgusted" by the Eagles drafting CB Quinyon Mitchell 😭 pic.twitter.com/MygE3R07BP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 26, 2024
While the Eagles have promising young players along the defensive front, they lacked a foundational player in the secondary. Philadelphia is clearly banking on Mitchell being able to change that narrative and shift the culture at cornerback.
Although Slay is still playing at a high level, he is 33 years old. Bradberry has one foot out the door after being terrorized by offenses in 2023. The rest of Philadelphia’s cornerback room is full of inexperienced players such as Ringo and Eli Ricks.
After hosting 10 cornerback prospects on 30 visits, it was evident that Roseman wanted to overhaul the secondary. Mitchell was clearly the top cornerback on Philadelphia’s board, considering he was the first player at the position selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
This offseason is proof that Roseman is constantly growing as a general manager. He continues to break several tendencies in 2024, including signing star running back Saquon Barkley to a massive contract.
Now the Eagles have selected a cornerback in the first round of the NFL Draft for the first time in over 20 years. Mitchell represents a new start for Philadelphia’s secondary as they look to build a defensive foundation to match the promise of the offense’s foundation.
KEEP READING: NFL Draft Grades 2024 — Analysis and Grades for All 7 Rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft
Looking for everything you need surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft? Make sure to check out the latest draft results, overall team grades, and updated best remaining players available at every position!