Raiders Draft 2024: Is cornerback Quinyon Mitchell a fit?

With speed, size, and physicality, Toledo prospect is a classic throwback to Silver & Black defensive backs

Remember when Jon Gruden was slapping Raiders stickers all over the helmets of prospects at the Senior Bowl back in 2019?

That hilarious activity occurred when Gruden, then the Raiders head coach, and his staff was tabbed to lead the North team in Mobile. Prospects and Raiders staff were enjoying the moment some player helmets had multiple stickers on it, some covering their respective school logo.

If that sticker slapping were happening in the 2024 iteration of the all-star game, it’s safe to assume Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell would’ve seen his helmet decked out with the Raiders logo.

For a cornerback-needy team like the Las Vegas Raiders, Mitchell is a throwback to classic Silver & Black defensive backs. At 6-feet and 195 pounds, the Toledo Rocket has the collegiate production, size, speed, and physicality that are traits that were once “Raider” characteristics. Mitchell is built like an every-down running back, hits like an old-school safety, and makes plays on the ball in flight like he’s the wide receiver trying to haul in the pass.

Tale of the Tape: Quinyon Mitchell

• School: Toledo
• Position: Cornerback
• Height: 6-feet
• Weight: 195 pounds
• 2023 Stats: 40 total tackles (32 solo), one tackle for loss, one interception, 19 passes defensed
• Career Stats: 122 total tackles (93 solo), 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack, six interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 52 passes defensed, one forced fumble

Running a smooth 4.33-seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, Mitchell gave onlookers a glimpse at his athleticism. It’s that speed combined with his ability to transition from backpedal into that sprint that makes him a supreme harrier to wide receivers and quarterbacks, alike.

That is sorely needed in Las Vegas.

While the Raiders do have a promising pair of cornerbacks in Jack Jones and Nate Hobbs and youngster Jakorian Bennett, too, the Raiders competition and depth at the position group isn’t ideal. Jones and Hobbs are likely to claim starting spots at outside and slot, respectively, but with the Silver & Black deploying more nickel alignments (that often require extra defensive backs, namely three cornerbacks), another entrant to the mix is a necessity.

And Mitchell fits the bill for Patrick Graham’s Raiders defense.

Excelling in off coverage and a read-and-react style defender uses his instincts and speed to make plays on the ball or the pass catcher, Mitchell is well-versed in zone coverage with a developing man coverage skillset. Graham is using more zone concepts as defensive play calling career develops and he deployed that style increasingly during his tenure as Raiders defensive boss. And Mitchell has the fluidity to be a playmaker in Silver & Black.

Due to his IQ and penchant to make plays on the pass in flight, Mitchell can use his size and speed to read and react, which will allow him to make plays accordingly. He is a run through the receiver-type tackler and he’s apt to get his hands on the ball for either pass breakup or interception. That’s due to his ability to turn and find the football — a trait that hasn’t been synonymous as much as it should be with Raiders cornerbacks.

Being fleet-footed also gives Mitchell the ability to run with faster wide receivers and it gives him elite makeup speed when mistakes occur.

Yet, as is the case with every prospect, there will be required refinement to Mitchell’s game at the next level.

While he comes with pro ready zone coverage skills, his ability to matchup in man coverage is going to be an early pain point. Mitchell isn’t always confident in man as his ability to diagnose and feel routes is still developing. Savvy route runners can erode Mitchell’s effectiveness when covered one on one and choice routes may be the promising corner’s undoing until that’s refined. Graham does mix up his coverage on the backend to make the Raiders unpredictable at times and when the team does go into man-press coverages, Mitchell may be in trouble early on. But Graham does love to disguise his coverages and if Mitchell lines up to show man press but it’s zone post snap, that may play right into the Raiders’ hands and showcasing Mitchell’s strengths.

Mitchell’s size and tackling ability projects him as an asset against the run, and while he does have wrap-up tendencies as a tackler, when met with running backs in the open field, the cornerback can lose his fundamentals and has a tendency to merely dive at the ball carriers legs instead of squaring up for the stop. Mitchell is willing to get his nose dirty in run support and uses the field well to his advantage (forcing play to sideline or back inside to help), he’s had issues disengaging from blockers and getting flowed out of the play.

With all that in mind, the 22-year-old Mitchell profiles as a cover corner who can tackle and for a Raiders defense that’s ascending and added a premiere piece in defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, a playmaking defensive back on the back end of Graham’s defense would be a solid choice at the No. 13 overall pick (if Mitchell is there).