Quinyon Mitchell proved to be one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks as a rookie. Now, the Philadelphia Eagles’ budding star is poised for a bigger Year Two — and perhaps more responsibility.
Mitchell, the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up, could be shadowing some of the league’s top wide receivers this season.
It might not happen every week. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said that if the strategy is implemented at all, it would only be “when warranted.” But Mitchell has spent a lot of time this preseason playing both sides of the field so he’s prepared for that possibility.
Earlier in training camp, he was flipping sides to follow A.J. Brown. After Brown picked up a minor injury, DeVonta Smith got the travel treatment. Both Brown and Smith, among others, have praised Mitchell’s play this summer.
“It’s not easy going against Q,” Smith said last week. “He’s making it tough on us.”
Mitchell has been a camp standout, building off an impressive rookie campaign. The 2024 first-round pick out of Toledo recorded 12 pass breakups last season. Quarterbacks completed only 53.2% of passes when targeting Mitchell in the regular season. In three NFC playoff games, his completion rate allowed was 29.4%.
Mitchell was exceptional opposite Darius Slay last year. But Slay is gone after signing with the Steelers, and a concerning competition is still ongoing to replace him. That means Mitchell might have to take on more in his second season, if the Eagles decide it’s necessary.
“There’s two factors,” Fangio said. “One, is there a guy on the other team worth doing it? And two, can your guys do it? Because there’s a lot involved with it.”
Let’s take a closer look at the prospect of Mitchell traveling in 2025.
Quinyon Mitchel
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has become one of the best at his position as a rookie.AP
What it says about Mitchell
The Eagles trust Mitchell. They have every reason to after last season.
Mitchell was a key player in Philly’s Super Bowl run. According to Pro Football Focus, only two players (Zyon McCollum, Denzel Ward) had more than Mitchell’s 16 forced incompletions. Mitchell also ranked third among corners in yards allowed per coverage snap (0.8) behind Patrick Surtain (0.6) and Derek Stingley (0.7).
That success has allowed Mitchell to play with more swagger this preseason. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship has noticed Mitchell being more vocal and coming into his own.
“Last year, he was more of a silent guy. I know Cooper (DeJean) called him, ‘The Silent Assassin,’” Blankenship said. “But this year, you can just tell he’s settling into himself and playing at a higher level. And it’s crazy to think that he’s only a second-year guy, you know? For him to have that success, especially as a rookie, it just gives him the confidence.”
And it gives the Eagles confidence to put more on Mitchell’s plate.
Bengals Eagles Football
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) runs by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Kelee Ringo (7) for a touchdown during an NFL football game, Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)AP
What it says about the other CBs
That confidence might not extend to the corners opposite Mitchell. Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson have battled since the start of camp for the starting job vacated by Slay — and the results haven’t been great.
Neither Ringo, the 2023 fourth-round pick, nor Jackson, the 29-year-old free agent signee, have shined in practice. And they got picked on in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Bengals. Ringo whiffed on a tackle and allowed a 36-yard touchdown to JaMarr Chase. Joe Burrow and his backup, Jake Browning, completed passes easily against Jackson.
That preseason game served as further confirmation why the Eagles went out and traded for Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jakorian Bennett. More competition is needed at CB2 ahead of a regular season in which the Eagles are slated to face some of the best receivers in the NFL.
Justin Jefferson. Puka Nakua. Amon-Ra St. Brown. CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers twice. Those are tough matchups, which is why Mitchell might be assigned to shadowing them.
How it can get tricky
Fangio said “there’s a lot involved” in having a corner travel with a receiver, and that you need the guys to be able to do it. Emphasis on “guys,” plural.
It doesn’t just come down to Mitchell and his ability. It comes down to whether the defensive backs, especially the safeties, know what their assignments are so there’s no confusion.
“It does throw you off at times just because we’re not known for traveling a lot of corners,” Blankenship said. “You kind of get comfortable with where everybody’s at. ... When you add another body that keeps going across the field, you’ve got to make sure you pay a little more attention and make sure he gets the call.”
Blankenship added that traveling a corner “gets complicated at times,” but followed up by saying it’s not an on-the-fly decision. If the Eagles are going to have Mitchell shadow a receiver that week, it’s going to be drilled in practice, and a plan is going to be in place.
Time will tell how the Eagles decide to handle Mitchell and the prospect of him taking on travel duties. We might even find out as soon as Sept. 4 when Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys come to Lincoln Financial Field for the season opener.
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