Quinyon Mitchell stood 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, poised. He seemingly knew exactly what was about to happen, but he was patient until he sped forward at exactly the right instant.
In a 2022 MAC battle between Northern Illinois and Toledo, the Rockets were up 7-0 less than four minutes into the contest. NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton took the snap and ran to his left, staring down his receiver near the sideline.
Mitchell, Toledo’s star cornerback, started running forward before the ball was in the air. He picked off a pass near NIU’s 30-yard line and outran everyone else to the end zone.
This was Mitchell’s shining moment, proving to everyone exactly what he was capable of. He intercepted four passes that game – three in the first half – and returned two for touchdowns.
And he doesn’t even feel that was his best performance.
Ever since then, he’s continuously improved his reputation among NFL scouts by locking down opposing wideouts and breaking up an astounding number of passes.
And now, he may well be a top 15 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
“The ball will get you paid,” Mitchell said at the NFL Combine. “At the Senior Bowl, I learned every ball that’s thrown in the air is worth $2.5 million. So I’m just trying to get that money.”
Where Did Quinyon Mitchell Get Drafted?
Mitchell was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the first defensive back off the board.
What Was Quinyon Mitchell’s 40 Time?
Mitchell was second among cornerbacks and third among all position groups with a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and was first at his position group with 20 reps in the bench press at the NFL Combine.
Mitchell’s score there, per NFL Next Gen States, was a 90, which is considered elite. He was one of five elite prospects at the combine, and his score was first among all cornerbacks.
Mitchell didn’t work out at Toledo’s Pro Day.
Quinyon Mitchell’s Stats And Highlights
Mitchell isn’t just the best Group of Five prospect this year. The HERO Sports G5 All-American was the highest-graded cornerback in the country by Pro Football Focus in 2023.
He allowed 27 receptions on 62 targets for 290 yards last season. He was second in the FBS with 14 pass breakups and is first in Toledo’s record books with 46 career pass breakups after pacing the FBS in 2022 with 25 passes defended.
In 2021, he started 13 games and was second on the team with eight pass breakups. He also added 34 tackles, two for loss, with one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. The year before that, he played in six games and tallied seven tackles.
“Just my ball skills,” Mitchell said at the combine when asked what NFL teams have said they like about him. “Intercepting the ball, breaking the ball up, playing through the hands, not panicking downfield. Honestly, that’s my top trait.”
Quinyon Mitchell’s NFL Comparison And Draft Profile
I project Mitchell’s playing style in the NFL will be similar to Charvarius Ward and Marshon Lattimore.
Mitchell broke up a ton of passes in college, just like Lattimore and Ward have in their careers. Those players also have similar frames and athletic profiles. Mitchell noted he’s also watched plenty of tape of Trent McDuffie, Darius Slay, Trevon Diggs, and Patrick Surtain II in hopes of learning from them.
Mitchell has the speed to play against any receiver. When the ball is in the air, he breaks for it at a blazing pace.
He also remains calm yet aggressive when the ball is coming his way. However, that aggressiveness could help and hurt him at the pro level, as opponents may be able to gain separation on double moves.
However, he does have great recovery speed, and his instincts are off the charts. He also keeps receivers in front of him and is in the right position often.
“He is a tremendous athlete,” Toledo head coach Jason Candle told HERO Sports. “… (He) is a physical specimen. He has great eyes on the football field and that creates a strong sense of anticipation, and he puts himself in the right position due to what he sees and he has elite physical traits to erase any mistakes he may make.”
