Eagles rookie sticking WRs like ‘white on rice’ could make team history with his stellar play

PHILADELPHIA – The pressure of being a first-round pick can weigh on players, but Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell appears unfazed by the expectations. Each week, teams test him with their top receivers, and each week Mitchell rises to the challenge, including during Thursday night’s win against the Washington Commanders.
According to Next Gen Stats, Mitchell lined up across from Terry McLaurin on 20 of the Commanders’ 25 passing routes. During those plays, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did not throw to McLaurin, which is notable being that McLaurin is a former Pro Bowl receiver. Mitchell is quickly building a reputation as one of the league’s best young cornerbacks, with the potential to achieve something no other Eagles rookie has in franchise history.
Mitchell attributes his early success to preparation, likening his matchup with the Commanders to an open-book test.
“It came from the way we prepared during the week,” Mitchell said. “We take our preparation very seriously all throughout the week. It was a short week, but we prepared our butts off and expected everything they showed us.”
Despite the praise for his performance, Mitchell remains grounded, saying he is focused on improving while receiving guidance from teammates who recognize his potential.
“I have to stay in the moment and just continue to get better,” Mitchell said. “I feel like everybody on the team is really hard on me because they expect better from me, and I appreciate it.”
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Thursday wasn’t the first time Mitchell has limited an opponent’s top receiver. According to Pro Football Focus, here are the statistics Mitchell has allowed when facing a team’s No. 1 receiver since the bye week:
Mitchell has also drawn praise from Thursday Night Football analyst Richard Sherman, a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler who was part of the Seahawks’ famed “Legion of Boom.” Sherman sees a bright future for the young cornerback.
“Quinyon Mitchell was on Terry McLaurin like white on rice,” Sherman said on the Thursday Night Football postgame show. “You can tell he cared about this matchup and took pride in it. When you’re young, these are the battles you live for, and that’s why they drafted him so high. He’s going to make this defense complete. He’s a big reason why they’re so effective against the pass. They believe in him, and I think he’s developing into something special. I did tell him he needs to start catching footballs, but other than that, he’s great.”
Mitchell has also benefited from working alongside his mentor, veteran cornerback Darius Slay, who plays on the opposite side of the field. Slay said their efforts are paying off.
“Q and I do a great job watching film together,” Slay said. “We meet with our DB coach every morning, and he does an excellent job breaking down the receivers. I also help Q because I’ve played against a lot of these guys since I’ve been in the league so long. We have a great understanding of what they want to do and what our weaknesses are, and we use all that information to our advantage.”
Mitchell has emerged as a serious candidate for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. If he wins, he would be the first in franchise history to earn the honor, after defensive tackle Jalen Carter finished second last season to Houston Texans linebacker Will Anderson Jr. Currently, Mitchell’s top competition is Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse, who has 4.5 sacks, 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. If Mitchell follows Sherman’s advice and converts a few interception opportunities, he could overtake Verse and secure the trophy.
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Chris Franklin may be reached at [email protected].