2024 NFL Draft: Should the Jaguars Consider Quinyon Mitchell at No. 17?
The 2024 NFL Draft season is upon us.
Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 17 overall pick.
As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.
Next up: Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Overview
A Florida native, Quinyon Mitchell was ranked a three-star recruit by 247Sports. He was ranked the No. 1,747 recruit in the 2020 recruiting class, the No. 155 cornerback recruit, and the No. 243 recruit in Florida. Mitchell committed to Toledo over offers from Illinois, Alcorn State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, South Alabama, South Dakota, and USF.
Mitchell played in six games as a true freshman in 2020, recording seven tackles. In 2021, Mitchell started 13 games and recorded eight passes defended, 34 tackles, and a forced fumble.
In 2022, Mitchell led the country in passes defended with 25 and earned first-team All-MAC and third-team All-American after also recording five interceptions, 41 tackles, and four tackles for loss.
Mitchell ended his college career with a strong senior season, being named a second-team All-American and first-team All-MAC after 18 pass breakups, one interception, 41 tackles, and two tackles for loss. Mitchell ended his college career as Toledo's all-time leader in career pass breakups with 46.
What Quinyon Mitchell Does Well
There is a reason Mitchell was always around the ball during his career. Toledo played plenty of off coverage that allowed its cornerbacks to anticipate routes and read the eyes of the quarterback, and Mitchell has a master's degree in baiting quarterbacks into poor decisions. He rarely overcommits or tips his hand at the top of the route, instead letting receivers attempt to set up their routes before exploding downhill and undercutting passes for either deflections or interceptions.
Mitchell's sense of timing led to plenty of broken up passes on underneath routes as well, with Mitchell showing a knack for getting his hands in position to knock the ball loose from the frame of receivers. Mitchell was effective in the red-zone as well, showing the ball skills, leaping ability, and length to contest passes and fade routes.
As a tackler, Mitchell shows the physicality to trust on an island. He does a good job of initiating contact and rarely loses reps due to a lack of desire. He has some technique issues to clean up, but he is a willing contributor in run defense and knows how to use his frame to set the edge on the boundary.
How Quinyon Mitchell Would Fit With the Jaguars
Mitchell's length and physicality with the ball in the air and as a tackler leads me to think that he can be an effective when asked to challenge wide receivers at the line. While it appears new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen will run more zone coverage than given credit for, it does also seem like his scheme demands his cornerbacks be able to challenge quick-hitting routes to force quarterbacks to hold onto the ball.
While Mitchell is at his best playing in off coverage, his overall physicality and tendency to play downhill suggests he would be a fit for Nielsen's defense, though perhaps not the best fit in this year's cornerback group. Regardless, Mitchell's ability to disrupt throwing lanes and impact the timing of routes seem like traits that could translate to Nielsen's defense.
The Jaguars ultimately need a Day 1 starter at nickel cornerback more than on the outside, but Mitchell's athleticism and willingness to tackle and take on blocks suggest he could survive in the slot, though his more natural place is on the outside. Ultimately he could be a long-term replacement for Darious Williams, but playing him inside could be asking him to play a bit out of position.
Verdict
If I have said it once, I have said it a dozen times. In most cases, it is pointless to try to assign a round grade before the combine and athletic testing results. With that said, Mitchell will carry a solid first-round grade for me as long as he tests as expected and doesn't have any worrying results that make people go back to his tape.
With that said, Mitchell has a ton of experience, is a willing tackler, and has the ball production and consistency to add value to any secondary. He looks like he is better in zone coverage than man or press coverage at this point, but he has the physical traits to play any kind of coverage.
Mitchell has the film of an athletic, high-upside cornerback prospect, so it wouldn't be a stretch to peg him to the Jaguars at No. 17 overall at this stage in the process. He likely should be drafted within the first 25 picks or so of the draft, so he would be an understandable player to project to the Jaguars.
For all of our 2024 NFL Draft profiles, click below.
