We’re currently in the dead period of the off-season and the Eagles won’t be back on the field until late July. Today, I’m starting a player profile series, to get to know some of the new faces on the Eagles. The plan is to start with the rookies, and then move on to the free agents. The series starts with the Eagles first round pick, Quinyon Mitchell.

For those of you who have followed me, you probably have already read my mock draft article where I had the Eagles taking Quinyon Mitchell in the first round, and I was right! For the record, as we got closer to the draft, I had zero confidence that the Eagles would be able to take him at 22, given how highly he was rated. But the draft is always full of surprises, and we ended up with Mitchell at 22. For newcomers, I wrote extensively about Mitchell in that article, highlighting his strengths and potential impact on the team. Here’s a recap of what I said (if you have read that article, you can skip this part):

“Quinyon Mitchell has the potential to make an immediate impact. If the Eagles choose Mitchell, I believe it would be a wise decision. However, it’s important to note that he is not without his flaws. Mitchell sometimes lags behind in his ability to read and react, which can give experienced receivers an edge on certain plays. Additionally, he could improve his tackling technique. While he tends to avoid wrapping up (which is a common issue that we are used to), he is committed to tackling. His man-to-man coverage skills are still developing, though he has demonstrated some proficiency in this area.

Now, let’s discuss why the Eagles might select Mitchell. Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme relies heavily on zone coverage, and Mitchell thrives in this style of play. He is most effective when facing the quarterback, allowing him to read and react to plays. His intelligence and football IQ are well-suited for Fangio’s system. Mitchell also possesses excellent route recognition and exceptional field vision. His speed is an asset; he is expected to run a 4.3 (Note: this was written on Feb. 29th, and he has since run a 4.33), making him difficult to beat deep. Furthermore, he has a knack for breaking up passes, with 19 in 2022 and 18 in 2023. While he may not have a high interception count, he compensates with his ability to disrupt passing lanes. Mitchell could significantly bolster the Eagles’ secondary.”

It’s now June, and we’ve been able to see Quinyon Mitchell in minicamp. If you had asked me where I saw him fitting in this season when we drafted him, I would have said he’s a Day 1 starter. However, this is the Eagles we’re talking about; they tend to have rookies earn their spots, and it often takes time for them to see significant snaps on the field unless something drastic happens, like an injury. Kelee Ringo has received a lot of attention so far, so I think he will lock up the other starting spot opposite Darius Slay. Mitchell will play this year, there’s no doubt about it—he’s really, really good. If you watch his tape, you will see why he was the first CB off the board, and everyone is still shocked he dropped that far. He’s a good kid who didn’t go to a Power 5 school, and that’s the knock on him. My prediction for this year: he gets rotated in and out to get his feet wet, then takes over Slay’s spot after this season.

Player comparison: a more explosive Jaylon Johnson