Three reasons why and why not Quinyon Mitchell will succeed with Eagles

The Eagles landed top cornerback prospect Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. 

That’s quite a catch, or is it? 

Why Mitchell will succeed:  

He’s loyal

After Philadelphia selected Mitchell, former Alabama coach-turned-ESPN commentator Nick Saban confessed to targeting Mitchell in 2022. 

"He was our No. 1 guy in the portal last year to try to get him to come out of the portal,” Saban said during the broadcast, “and he would never get in the portal."

With so many players manipulating the transfer portal these days, it's rare to see players stick with smaller programs. Bigger schools turned away when Mitchell was ruled academically ineligible in 2019, but Toledo stayed in touch and brought him on in 2020.

The last first-round cornerback worked out pretty well for Philadelphia

Granted, it was a long time ago, but in 2002, the Eagles drafted cornerback Lito Sheppard 26th overall. He’d play 126 games for the team, including Super Bowl XXXIX, while earning two Pro Bowl nominations and one All-Pro.    

The Eagles' defense should be better in 2024

Not only did the team bring in Vic Fangio to take over the defense, but they also brought back safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who had six interceptions in 12 games with the team in 2022. Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers should also help after serving a one-year suspension for gambling.   

Just two years ago, Philadelphia owned the NFL’s best secondary. Things could be much different next season with a few tweaks and a player like Mitchell.