Posted April 26th, 2024 | Comments Off on Day 2 – Eagles Draft Preview
The 2024 draft got off to a good start for the Eagles. Teams loaded up on offense and that pushed some good defensive prospects down the board. Howie Roseman thought about trading up, but held and ended up getting a player the Eagles really wanted, CB Quinyon Mitchell. I think the Eagles hit a home run in getting Mitchell. Let’s see if they can have another good day.
Before talking about prospects and scenarios, let’s take a look at where the roster stands as of today.
WR DeVonta Smith … DeVante Parker WR AJ Brown …… Joseph Ngata WR Parris Campbell ….. Britain Covey QB  Jalen Hurts …….. Kenny Pickett ….. Tanner McKee RB  Saquon Barkley ..… Kenneth Gainwell ……. TE Dallas Goedert …… CJ Uzomah ……..… Grant Calcaterra LT Jordan Mailata …… Fred Johnson LG Landon Dickerson….. OC Cam Jurgens ……… Matt Hennessy RG  Tyler Steen ….… Brett Toth RT  Lane Johnson …….
ED Josh Sweat …… Nolan Smith …. Patrick Johnson DL Milton Williams …. Moro Ojomo NT Jordan Davis …… PJ Mustipher ……. Noah Ellis DL Jalen Carter ………… Marlon Tuipulotu ED Bryce Huff ….. Brandon Graham … Zack Baun MB Devin White ………. Oren Burks …… Brandon Smith WB Nakobe Dean ……… Ben VanSumeren SS CJ Gardner-Johnson … Tristan McCollum FS Reed Blankenship …… Sydney Brown … Mekhi Garner CB  Darius Slay ……….. Isaiah Rodgers ……… Eli Ricks CB Quinyon Mitchell ….. Kelee Ringo ……. James Bradberry NB Avonte Maddox …… Tyler Hall ………. Zech McPhearson
P Braden Mann K Jake Elliott LS Rick Lovato
NEEDS
Linebacker is a need. Nakobe Dean barely played last year and can’t be counted on at this point. Devin White is here on a one-year deal. The team needs a young, talented LB to add to the mix. Expect a pick in rounds 2-4.
I thought about a lot of scenarios before the draft. I did not anticipate 6 of the first 12 picks being QBs. I did not anticipate the first 14 picks being offensive players. And I sure as heck didn’t anticipate both of the top CBs making it to pick 22.
Mitchell is the guy I wanted. My fear is that the Eagles would have to trade up for him. We heard talk of them moving up with Denver or Seattle. Instead, Howie played it perfectly. He sat and waited. One of the key jobs for a GM is to talk to teams and try to understand what they’ll do. The Eagles got a player they really wanted and didn’t have to move up at all to get him. Great job by Howie of doing his research and then having the discipline to let things fall.
Mitchell is a terrific prospect.
Quinyon Mitchell was drafted with pick 22 of round 1 in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.79 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 52 out of 2472 CB from 1987 to 2024. https://t.co/mHmqJLixr2pic.twitter.com/QjauywKPL5
Mitchell was a stud at Toledo, but the MAC doesn’t produce a ton of NFL receivers. It was fair to question how he would do against top competition. Mitchell went down to Mobile and blew us all away. He was the best corner at the Senior Bowl and showed he was legit. He wasn’t a good small school prospect. He was a stud.
Mitchell can press and be physical with receivers. He has the speed to turn and run with them. If he plays off, Mitchell can break on the ball. He’s got the speed and ball skills to make plays. He can get the job done in man or zone. Mitchell will hit and tackle.
I think the Eagles will also like his intangibles. In an era when guys transfer, Mitchell stayed at Toledo as a way to reward them for giving him a chance when he came out of high school. He has a chip on his shoulder and will do what it takes to make it. There are no guarantees with any player, but Mitchell sure feels like a guy you can believe in.
The Eagles secondary needed youth, talent and speed. Mitchell provides all three. The Eagles are off to a great start in the 2024 draft.
*****
Howie and company got things going before the draft even began.