The Eagles’ 2024 defensive backfield has been as different as night and day compared to the 2023 season. A large part of the improvement has been the play of rookie first-round pick and outside cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Many observers did not believe the Eagles would be able to show this amount of progress in such a short time. While Eagles GM Howie Roseman receives a lot of flowers after drafting a corner in the first round for the first time since 2002, Quinyon Mitchell’s mentor, Big Play Slay, deserves a lot of credit for the fast and successful transition.
Pre Draft
Many draft observers questioned how good Quinyon Mitchell would be in the NFL due to playing his collegiate ball in Toledo and not having played some of the top competition at the college level. He did not play press man coverage often for the Mudhens, but he did have a gaudy 23% PBU rate, and at 6’0, he has the ideal size for the position.
Quinyon went to the Senior Bowl determined to answer the questions regarding how he would compete against the best receivers in the Nation and to silence all of his critics for good. Mitchell recently told me that he arrived in Mobile “pissed off” and ready to change the narrative.
Howie Roseman stated how Quinyon’s performance at the Senior Bowl influenced the Eagle’s evaluation of his game.
“So when he got in people’s faces at the Senior Bowl, we thought he was one of the best players at the Senior Bowl against really good competition, against a really good receiving class.”
Quinyon also impressed the Eagles’ brass with the technique and toolbox of skills he employed that week in Mobile.
“When we talk about finishing the process you got to see him play press coverage at the Senior Bowl. That was an opportunity to see him kind of finish that and be well-rounded. So I think that really helped us see that he had a diverse array of skill sets there. That was one of the concerns when you see him play, that he’s only playing a certain way and he is allowing his eyes to lead him to the ball.”
Lastly, Howie stated that Mitchell’s loyalty to his Coaches, teammates, and College demonstrated the type of character and person that Philadelphia was looking to bring into the nest.
“He had a chance to transfer out of Toledo last year. He stayed there. He came back. He got better. He went to the Senior Bowl. He really checked the whole offseason process boxes one by one off, which is important.”
The Eagles identified the corner they wanted, and got their man!
Draft
Philadelphia selected Quinyon Mitchell in the first round with pick 22 in the 2024 NFL Draft.
After Quinyon was drafted, Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman face-timed Mitchell from the draft room and described their plan for him once he arrived in Philadelphia.
“I want you to live next door to Slay.”
Quinyon laughed and played along.
“I might move in with him. Real talk. I’m going to text him right now.”
Jokes aside, the two cornerbacks seemed destined to play in the same defensive backfield, and their friendship was a long time coming.
Brotherly Love
Quinyon told me that he modeled his game after Slay long before he was drafted by the Eagles.
“Before I got here, I watched a lot of his tapes; it was kinda like I manifested playing with him. He is just teaching me everything, giving me everything I need, and he has been a big part of my success.”
Slay had mentioned earlier in the season that he was just as excited to play alongside Q.
“My heart kind of dropped a little bit when I saw him falling to us in the draft. I said, ‘If this kid can drop to us, man, we’ll be special together.’”
Slay’s quote seems to be prophetic. He has been rejuvenated by playing with Mitchell, and Quinyon has been a sponge while working alongside Slay, learning everything he can from the veteran corner. Eagle’s DB Coach Christian Parker described the relationship.
“It’s a cool big brother-little brother dynamic.”
A role Slay described he felt destined to do.
“That’s what I think God put me on this earth for, to give out information and help others be great”
While Q did not take the draft day advice from Howie Roseman by moving in with Slay, they do have lockers beside one another, which has played a part in yielding the results that the Eagles had hoped for. Head Coach Nick Sirianni has seen the mentoring job from Team Captain Slay and the effect it has had on Mitchell.
“I think that’s something that you don’t get to hear about Slay enough. You hear about the special play that he has. But man, he always has the best interest of his teammates at heart. Good heart. Just a great teammate.”
Identifying and signing the type of players who want to pay it forward has been a hallmark of the Eagles in recent history. A trait that will benefit the team for years to come and a philosophy that has paid dividends right away.
Eagles
Quinyon Mitchell, a rookie many thought would be overwhelmed by the level of competition and Slay, a 34-year-old corner many believed to have lost a step, has played better than anyone outside of the Nova Care complex could have imagined.
Despite the naysayers, The duo has been nothing short of amazing. The Eagles finished eighth in the NFL in fewest touchdown passes allowed, and they were first in the league in fewest yards allowed per game (their first time since the Gang Green Defense of 1991) with only 278.4 yards. The next closest was the Titans, who allowed 311.2! Mitchell, a YAC killer, only allowed 74 yards after the catch all season, while Slay was fourth in the league in PBUs with 12. They will need the same production from them and the defense as they begin the post-season.
The talkative and outspoken Slay is the polar opposite of Mitchell’s quiet demeanor off the field. But on it, they both talk the talk and walk the walk. If the Eagle’s two shut-down corners play four more games the way they have during the regular season, Philadelphia could win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
As always, Thank you for reading!
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Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
