Quinyon Mitchell seems poised for a big jump in Year 2

Quinyon Mitchell seems poised for a big jump in Year 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Quinyon Mitchell smiled widely and chuckled when he was asked about Vic Fangio's assessment from earlier in the week.

Fangio was talking about Mitchell's ball skills and brought up Mitchell's interception off Jalen Hurts on Monday, saying he didn't know if the cornerback would have made that play as a rookie.

Yeah," Mitchell said about his ball skills, I've been working this offseason on them."

And that's a scary thought.

That after the incredible rookie season Mitchell had in 2024, he's still getting better. Heck, he may have just scratched the surface of his potential in the NFL and he was already really, really good.

Could the 24-year-old Mitchell be a Pro Bowler in 2025? An All-Pro?

Through six training camp practices, it all seems very much in play. Mitchell has been arguably the best Eagles player on the field this summer and the only cornerback capable of matching up with and slowing down A.J. Brown.

As a rookie first-round pick, Mitchell caught Brown's attention by smack talking him - he would routinely call his routes trash - and then backing up his trash talk. But Mitchell said the battles between them have been more silent this summer.

I feel like it's different a lot," Mitchell said. I'm more comfortable. I learned the system. I learned where everybody at. Just knowing how to play him on different type of coverages and calls."

Last summer, it felt like Mitchell was an energetic puppy nipping at the big dog on the field. This year, it's just a daily battle between two big dogs.

He's going to compete at a high level," Brown said last week. He's not going to back down and I expect him to evolve."

After beginning training camp playing exclusively on the left side of the field, Mitchell in recent days has been flipping back and forth between the left corner and right corner positions as the Eagles prepare for the possibility of his traveling with top receivers in 2025.

And, on many days, that means getting a chance to see Brown on both sides of the field. He said he tries to treat those opportunities like he would a game. Mitchell knows those reps are making him better, but he wants to make Brown better too.

Many cornerbacks view traveling with a great receiver as a badge of honor and Mitchell is no different.

Yessir, I would love to take on that challenge," he said. But whatever they ask of me, I'm going to do it."

Mitchell last year finished second in the NFL in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind Rams defensive end Jared Verse. As a rookie, Mitchell gave up just 43 catches on 76 targets for 479 yards but didn't have a single interception in the regular season. He finally picked up two INTs in the playoffs but ball skills was the one area of his game that he needed to improve.

So he's been working at it.

Mitchell said that before every practice, he works with head strength and conditioning coach Fernando Noriega on his ball skills. And it goes beyond just hitting the JUGS machine. Mitchell said there's a drill he does where he has to catch either a red, yellow or blue ball based on the command to work on his hand-eye coordination.

Fangio apparently sees Mitchell's commitment to improving because he handed out some high praise earlier this week.

Any improvement he can make," Fangio said," he'll make because he'll work at it."

All that work seems to be paying off.