Quinyon Mitchell locking down Washington’s Terry McLaurin sent shockwaves throughout the NFL. Many praised the Eagles’ scouting for discovering the rookie who was a target for the Dallas Cowboys, or more precisely, Micah Parsons wanted his team to draft the man from Toledo.
On Day 1 of the Draft, Parsons, joined by Texans quarterback CJ Stroud, predicted the destinations of the players. When Mitchell was on board for the 22nd pick, Parsons thought his Cowboys might make a move to pair him with Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.
However, the Eagles swooped in and took the 23-year-old. The shock of losing such a valuable player made the All-Pro pass rusher dumbfounded.
I’m honestly utterly disgusted on how lucky the Eagles are. I thought he was a top-15, top-12 talent, and he just fell right into their laps… He was definitely one of my more favorite players in this draft.
Micah Parsons said via the 33rd Team (HT/Bleacher Report).
This wasn’t the first time the Eagles made him sick to his stomach. He had a similar reaction to when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman drafted Jalen Carter in 2023. Carter has completed 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and one forced return. Parsons isn’t a fan of Roseman.
The Rise of Quinyon Mitchell in Philadelphia
Adding Mitchell was a no-brainer for the Eagles. Despite a strong start to last season, Nick Sirianni’s team fell apart in the later stages. According to StatMuse, the Eagles conceded an average of 25.5 points per game, which was the third worst behind Washington and Arizona.
Roseman signed CJ Gardner Johnson from Detroit and drafted Quinyon Mitchell for added depth alongside Cooper DeJean. In 2024, they have allowed just 17.7 points per game (6th best behind the Chargers, Steelers, Vikings, Broncos, and Chiefs).
When the Eagles played Washington, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio set up Mitchell to shadow wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The 23-year-old did not allow a single reception the entire game, landing with the nickname “Quintanomo Bay.”
After the game, McLaurin acknowledged Mitchell.
He doesn’t play like a rookie.
McLaurin said via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mitchell has been impressive in every game this season. Whether facing the likes of Falcons’ Drake London or All-Pro CeeDee Lamb from the Cowboys, he locked down every single one of them.
Mitchell has only allowed 0.5 yards per coverage snap, which is the second-fewest among cornerbacks with a minimum of 100 coverage snaps. If he keeps up the good work, then perhaps a defensive rookie award may not be far away. His next trial is against the Los Angeles Rams.
