PHILADELPHIA — Quinyon Mitchell was even better than expected in his first NFL season The only player in the league to face 375+ coverage snaps without allowing a touchdown pass this season, Mitchell played his way into the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
That’s just the beginning of what Mitchell can accomplish.
“It’s limitless, man,” Eagles cornerback Darius Slay said of Mitchell’s ceiling. “You know, he got a talent that could really just blossom very well.”
Mitchell is arguably on pace to have the best rookie season for an Eagles cornerback since Eric Allen in 1988. Opposing quarterbacks are just 9 of 21 (42.9%) for 78 yards with no touchdowns and a 50.3 rating targeting Mitchell since Week 6. Mitchell has allowed only four catches for 30 yards covering the likes of Terry McLaurin, Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Malik Nabers for the last four weeks.
It’s Slay’s advice that helped Mitchell thrive.
“I just told him to keep working on the little details because nowadays, what you play at this elite level, they’re going to expect that all the time,” Slay said. “You know, I told him, as a rookie I wouldn’t compare it to just being elite this early. That didn’t happen in my sophomore going into my third year when I came into being as a guy.
“I’m like ‘Hey, you’ve got to keep this up every year…’…this is going to be something that’s talked about because you’ve set the ceiling so high for yourself. And he’s ready for it, he’s ready for it. So long. while I’m playing, and certainly if I’m here, I’ll make sure he’s ready for it.”
Opposing quarterbacks targeting Mitchell as the primary defender have completed just 48.9% of their passes and have a 55.4 passer rating. Mitchell still doesn’t have an interception, but he hasn’t given up a pass touchdown either.
“I mean it just takes confidence in making plays because one thing I know, he’s going to be ready mentally, physically because he’s doing a great job taking care of his body,” Slay said. “And Coach [Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker] prepare him well enough to make sure he is ready to go.
“I’m going to do my job and my duty to make sure he’s ready to go too. So we’ve always been ready for him and all he has to do is execute and have fun doing it. That’s what you can say he’s doing now is having fun, play smart, play fast.”
If it were up to Slay, he would already have his vote cast for defensive rookie of the year.
“He was elite,” Slay said. “He should be a Rookie [of the Year] easy.”
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