Toledo Rockets cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (27). Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Two NFL experts link top CB to Eagles in upcoming draft

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 2/7/24

After boasting the league’s best unit in 2022, Philadelphia’s secondary fell apart in 2023. It won’t be an easy fix, but at least two NFL experts think the Eagles should start in northwest Ohio.

In five years as a Toledo Rocket, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell had 124 tackles (93 solo), 45 passes defended and six interceptions. All but one of those interceptions and 19 of his pass deflections came during an outstanding 2022 campaign that earned him first-team All-MAC honors.

Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell is the best defensive player at Senior Bowl & this is the best rep of the week! pic.twitter.com/SOBJeZGLlH
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 31, 2024

Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings ranks Mitchell as the sixth-best cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft with high praise for his play-making abilities.

According to his scouting report, the Florida native brings absurd closing speed and range to the field with enough short-area quickness and physicality to match receivers at the line.

Maybe that’s why ESPN’s Matt Miller has Mitchell going to the Eagles at No. 22 in his latest mock draft. Miller believes Mitchell played himself into the first round with the best showing of any prospect at last weekend’s Senior Bowl.

Miller notes that from Week 13 on, the Eagles allowed 7.8 yards per attempt (27th) and a 66.8 percent completion rate (26th). He also points out that both of Philly's starting cornerbacks (James Bradberry and Darius Slay) are over 30 years old.

Could that be why Pro Football Focus named Mitchell as the Eagles' perfect 2024 draft prospect in their 2024 Offseason Blueprint feature? PFF stops short of detailing why Mitchell fits the team, but they do have him ranked as the fourth-best cornerback and 19th-best prospect overall.

Philadelphia hasn’t drafted a player from Toledo since taking DB Clarence Love at 116th overall in 1998, but the current Eagles vice president of player performance is a former Rocket.

Most see him on the sidelines working as the “get back” guy. Maybe if the team adds Mitchell, they’ll get back to having a dominant secondary.

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