Week 15 presents a big opportunity for Quinyon Mitchell.
Sunday’s Battle for Pennsylvania will pit the Eagles against a very good, AFC North-leading Steelers team. With so much talent on both sides of the ball for Pittsburgh, the Eagles will need to play four (and no less!) good quarters of football to get their twelfth win of the season. While rookies Cooper DeJean and Jalyx Hunt will get their fair share of snaps and attention, it’s one storyline I am particularly interested in: Quinyon Mitchell’s candidacy for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Since Week 1, Quinyon Mitchell has lined up against some of the NFL’s top receivers, holding them to paltry and sometimes nonexistent numbers. The 23 year old defender has been one of the most dominant cornerbacks in the NFL this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Quinyon Mitchell ranks eighth in receptions allowed among cornerbacks who have played at least 400 snaps. Among that same data set, Mitchell ranks ninth in completion percentage allowed, 10th in passer rating when targeted and fifth in pass breakups. All the while playing 510 coverage snaps, which ranks 10th among cornerbacks.
This is a wildly impressive season for a rookie cornerback and the Eagles defense has benefited, ranking as one of the best in the league this year. So how is he not running away with the DPOY conversation?
Quite simply, he just needs sexier stats. The advanced metrics are great and speak to how he has been so, so good. It might no be fair but Mitchell hasn’t picked off any passes or forced any fumbles yet, and those are the numbers that will help put him over the line for the award.
His main competition is Rams edge defender Jared Verse, who has 4.5 sacks and 11 TFLs through 14 games. Impressive numbers and that’s before you get to slightly more in-depth numbers like hurries and hits, where he ranks very highly in the NFL as well.
It’s hard. Front seven players have advantages when it comes to awards. Their positions ask them to be in the mix on every play and, literally, in the view of the broadcast camera. Cornerback is a position where most of the best play isn’t even seen because they won’t even get targeted. So there needs to be some flashy moments.
The Steelers passing game has been quite good this year with Russell Wilson enjoying a comeback year under Arthur Smith. Sunday they will likely miss George Pickens, who has been a revelation for them this year. That means Quinyon Mitchell will have a slightly easier task in whomever he lines up against. Not only will he need to shut them down, but this could be a game where he snags his first career interception. Russell Wilson has been extremely careful with the ball this season, making it even more consequential if Mitchell is able to turn the ball over for the Eagles.
It’s a bit of a vanity agenda. Who cares if Quinyon Mitchell wins an award if he’s as good as he is? The last time an Eagle won any major award, besides Comeback Player of the Year, was Keith Jackson winning OPOY in 1988. It’s been 36 years! And maybe the Eagles have another player who could walk away with a major award this season, but it would be cool to see the rookie get his flowers!
