Quinyon Mitchell used Terry McLaurin to boost chances at Eagles history with DROY

The Philadelphia Eagles' secondary was one of the weakest units on the team last year, as the sudden aging of James Bradberry, coupled with poor defensive coaching, played a big role in the team's collapse in the second half of last season. The arrival of Quinyon Mitchell has put an immediate stop to any thoughts of a poor defense in 2024.

The Eagles invested heavily in young secondary pieces in the 2024 NFL Draft, spending a first-round pick on Mitchell and a second-rounder on Iowa's Cooper DeJean. While DeJean has been so impressive as the team's nickel cornerback, Mitchell might be on track to become an All-Pro in the future.

His most stellar performance came on Thursday Night Football against Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. Despite the veteran's gaudy numbers, Mitchell, who was on McLaurin often, made the possible Pro Bowler look completely out his element.

McLaurin was held to just one catch for 10 yards in the game and didn't have a single catch in the entire first half. When McLaurin was matched up alongside Mitchell, he wasn't targeted once on any of the 20 routes he ran against him. This is a player who is having the best season of an already successful career.

Mitchell's jump from Toledo to the highest level of competition has been astonishing, so much so that he could end up with a Defensive Rookie of the Year trophy on his mantlepiece. No Eagles player has ever won Defensive Rookie of the Year (Reggie White somehow came in second in 1985), meaning Mitchell would make history,

Eagles CB Quinyon Mitchell could win DROY after shutting down Terry McLaurin

While Mitchell does not yet have an interception on the season, he can lean on the same logic that makes players like Sauce Gardner and Jaylon Johnson great. It's hard to get interceptions when quarterbacks don't want to throw the ball anywhere near you. Mitchell has shadowed big-name receivers and come out of those matchups smelling like a rose.

When quarterbacks are brave enough to actually challenge Mitchell, he has responded with a 25% forced incompletion rate that ranks first among all NFC cornerbacks. Mitchell is not just elite for a rookie; he's elite among all NFL cornerbacks out there.

The Vic Fangio scheme places a great deal of responsibility on the starting cornerbacks, as they need to be trusted to lock down high-end receivers without a ton of help around them. Mitchell has answered the call, proving that he is already a star in this league.