When hired as general manager back in 2021, Terry Fontenot had his work cut out for him. The Atlanta Falcons were a cap-stricken team, mixed with aging veterans and needs all over the roster. Since then, he has spent the last few years acquiring young offensive playmakers via the draft, locking down the offensive line, and spending big in free agency on impact players. Terry has done an admirable job plugging holes along the team, yet, three years later, more work needs to be done. Edge rusher stands out as the most obvious hole, but a deeper look at the roster reveals that the cornerback position is arguably just as big of a need. A.J. Terrell has been a strong presence in the secondary, but the pro bowler is in the last year of his deal. While it feels likely the team will make every effort to re-sign him, it’s not a sure thing.
The Case For CB at 8
The cornerback position opposite Terrell has been a revolving door. The team has attempted to solve that issue over the years but to no avail. Veterans Fabian Moreau and Casey Hayward Jr. opened the 2021 and 2022 seasons as starters opposite Terrell, and neither player showed enough to be more than stopgaps. Last year, Fontenot traded a 5th-round draft pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for former third-overall pick Jeff Okudah. There was optimism that Okudah could finally live up to his draft status and install himself as a long-term piece to the secondary. Sadly, after a bright start to his tenure as a Falcon, the same old injuries and inconsistent play resulted in the team allowing him to walk in free agency. As for the rest of the cornerback room, it lacks answers. Only one player is currently under contract in 2025 and beyond, Second-year corner Clark Phillips. While Phillips showed some flashes during his rookie campaign, he has not shown enough to be counted on as a future starter, as his physical limitations could limit him to covering the slot. Mike Hughes would fare better as a depth piece, the newly signed Antonio Hamilton is better suited to a role on special teams, and Dee Alford fits better as a nickel (though reported he may see some time at safety this year). The Falcons are in dire need of more talent at the position, specifically on the boundary. Luckily, they are in a prime position to add that much-needed talent. Currently holding the 8th overall selection, the team should have its pick of the top cornerbacks in the NFL draft.
Who is Quinyon Mitchell?
Out of the potential cornerback prospects, one stands out as a perfect fit for the Falcons. Allow me to introduce you to Quinyon Mitchell. The 22-year-old grew up in a small Florida town, where he was under-recruited despite a stellar high school career. The University of Toledo coaching staff were among the first to discover him and, shortly after, offered Mitchell a scholarship. Several other teams showed interest later in the recruiting process, but Mitchell stayed loyal to Toledo. He was named a starter in 2021 and started 40/40 games over the next three seasons. Pro scouts began to catch on to his talent, but his stock took off after a four-interception game (including two returned for a touchdown) against Northern Illinois in 2022. That was just the beginning of Mitchell’s rise. Other power five college football teams attempted to poach Quinyon from the Rockets after his junior season, but he once again stayed loyal to his program and turned those opportunities down to stay at the University of Toledo. A strong senior season had Quinyon’s name buzzing as a potential first-round pick, and he was invited to Mobile, Alabama to participate in the Senior Bowl.
“Catch it like a cornerback, that’s an interception (x2)” – B.o.B & @quinbangout14 @ToledoFB | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/mZhIljujrL
— #MACtion (@MACSports) October 8, 2022
Perfect Pre-Draft Process
The Senior Bowl was especially important for Quinyon. There, he would have the opportunity to perform in front of NFL teams who may not have seen him in person, being that Toledo is such a small school in comparison to other programs. Quinyon took this opportunity and ran with it. He thrived during practices, impressing pro scouts and teams in attendance. He showcased his speed, fluid hips, and smooth transition ability during drills. He regularly locked down receivers in 1v1 drills, staying calm and in phase regardless of who he lined up against. Playing tight man and press coverage was a question mark for him since he wasn’t asked to do much of it in college. It didn’t matter. Quinyon emphatically checked those boxes. Social media quickly labeled Quinyon Mitchell as the best prospect in attendance, and at the end of the week, he was named the top cornerback by his teammates (and wide receivers who lined up against him).
Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell is the best defensive player at Senior Bowl & this is the best rep of the week! pic.twitter.com/SOBJeZGLlH
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 31, 2024
Those who questioned the level of competition Mitchell played against had nothing to stand on after he competed with some of the top players from around the country at the Senior Bowl. It was as successful a week as any player could’ve hoped for. The next opportunity for Quinyon to boost his stock would come at the NFL Combine. Once again, he took the bull by the horns, proving he was one of the elite athletes out of all prospects at the position. He ran a blistering fast 4.33 forty-yard dash (second among all corners, tied for third among all players), showed his explosiveness with a 38” vertical, and put up 20 reps on the bench press just for fun. By dominating the Senior Bowl and having an outstanding combine, Quinyon took his stock from a fringe first-rounder and vaulted himself into the top ten discussions (he’s now the 11th overall player on consensus big boards). You’d be hard-pressed to find any player who was a bigger winner during the pre-draft process than Quinyon Mitchell.
Quinyon Mitchell is a CB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.79 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 52 out of 2469 CB from 1987 to 2024.
Mitchell put up a fantastic Combine showing as the year’s top RAS for CB.https://t.co/mHmqJLixr2 pic.twitter.com/cPTJLxvsD9
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 7, 2024
Quinyon 💨💨💨
The kind of hustle play coaches rave about pic.twitter.com/haBs4sEgyH
— kenny g. (@Gritz_Blitz) April 21, 2024
Can Mitchell Fit in Atlanta?
Now that we’ve done some background on the player, how does Mitchell fit in with head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake? Seamlessly. Morris had a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy on defense during his time with the Los Angeles Rams. A bend-but-don’t-break defense focuses on taking away explosive plays from the opposing offense. The defense will err to give up shorter completions and limit yards after the catch, forcing offenses to sustain longer drives. Morris relied heavily on soft zone defense to prevent these chunk gains. These coverage shells are the key to allowing Morris to run the simulated pressures that he has had so much success with. Expect a lot of Cover 3, Quarters, and Cover 6 from the Falcons defense this season. This matches perfectly with the type of defense Toledo’s defensive coordinator, Vince Kehres, ran the last few seasons with Mitchell as a starter. Coach Kehres has a similar philosophy to Morris and ran tons of off-man and Cover 3, where the secondary kept the play in front of them. This style of play complimented Mitchell’s skillset nicely. His ability to read and react is impressive. When the ball comes in his direction, he’s quick to plant and drive toward the target, fight through the hands, and break up the pass, while his athleticism allows him to effortlessly mirror opposing receivers.
Throwback to last season, when Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell snagged four interceptions in one game against NIU.
So far this year, he has 13 PBUs in 9 games. Absolute ball-hawk at 6’0”, 200, with 4.3 speed. No surprise he’s climbing up boards.
pic.twitter.com/cPrb1z8Hvn
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) November 2, 2023
Another layer Mitchell could potentially add to the Falcons’ secondary is ball production. Jessie Bates registered six interceptions this past season, but it has been years since the team has had a true ball hawk at corner. Mitchell’s familiarity with zone responsibilities, combined with his ability to break on the ball and meet receivers at the catch point, could go a long way toward him racking up turnovers for the defense. As a matter of fact, the last time the Falcons drafted a cornerback with the 8th overall pick (DeAngelo Hall out of Virginia Tech), they found themselves a much-needed ballhawk.
Excited to watch #Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell at the Senior Bowl. He has some of the best plant, drive and finish abilities of any corner in this class. One of my favorites on tape. pic.twitter.com/hXrzdUhemB
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) January 22, 2024
Everything the Falcons would ask Mitchell to do, he’s already shown he can do at a high level. He’s a battle-tested defensive back (just shy of 2,300 coverage snaps) who held up when targeted, breaking up or intercepting nearly 30% of the targets that came his way. He’s a perfect scheme fit, with no red flags. The self-proclaimed “Best player in MAC history” would be an outstanding addition to the Atlanta Falcons. He’s a plug-and-play day-one starter with Pro Bowl upside, who checks every box. The need is there, the fit is there, and the player will be there. If Terry Fontenot wants to finally find the stability he’s been searching for at corner opposite A.J. Terrell, he needs to look no further than Quinyon Mitchell.
