Bleeding Green Nation
Philadelphia’s second-year cornerback is already very good and he might get even better.
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.
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...
