The Philadelphia Eagles won the 2024 NFL Draft at cornerback, and Howie Roseman didn’t even have to trade up to do it. Quinyon Mitchell has been everything Philadelphia could have asked for and more. A Super Bowl champion, a lockdown No. 1 corner, and already one of the best at his position in the entire NFL.

The Eagles also landed Cooper DeJean in that same draft class, making it arguably the best pair of picks we’ve seen during the Roseman era. Now, with the Detroit Lions releasing Terrion Arnold amid serious off-field issues, the decision to stay put and take Mitchell looks even more brilliant.

Arnold’s situation puts the Eagles’ process in perspective

The Lions are dealing with a difficult situation surrounding Arnold right now, and without diving too deep into the details, I hope he gets his life and career back on track. He has a young child and a lot going on, and the priority should be getting him the help he needs. But as it relates to the Eagles and their draft process, this is another example of Roseman getting it right when it mattered most.

A lot of people said Arnold should have been the pick over Mitchell. I remember those conversations. And look, I am thankful every single day that Roseman stuck to his guns and selected the guy who is going to be a franchise cornerstone for this team for a very long time. This isn’t luck. The Eagles run a thorough pre-draft process, and both Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie have talked about how much character factors into who they bring into the locker room. Maybe that’s one reason they passed on Arnold and chose Mitchell instead. A guy who has been humble, down to earth, and focused on his business since Day 1. Just a professional who shows up and does his job at an elite level.

Mitchell’s numbers are absurd for a second-year player

Now let’s talk about what Mitchell is doing on the field, because the stats back up everything we’ve seen with our own eyes. According to Mina Kimes from ESPN, Mitchell forced the highest rate of tight-window throws of any cornerback in the entire league last season. On top of that, he allowed the lowest yards after catch per reception. And keep in mind, that was only his second year in the NFL.

Think about that for a second. In a league full of talented corners, a sophomore is already leading the position in two of the most important coverage metrics you can track. That’s not a guy who’s just playing well for his age. That’s a guy who is already among the best in football, period.

I don’t think it’s too early to say the Eagles are going to have an all-time franchise corner in Mitchell. Look at the rookie season. Look at how he followed it up without any type of sophomore slump. This is the real deal. And for a position where Philadelphia had to worry for years, where we cycled through guys and hoped someone would step up, Roseman went out and found the answer in one draft pick. We don’t even have to think twice about it anymore.

Roseman keeps making good calls

This is why Roseman is such a high-level general manager. He evaluates the board, trusts his process, and makes the pick that fits both the roster and the culture. The Mitchell selection is a perfect example. He sat at his spot, let the draft come to him, and walked away with a player who looks like he’ll be shutting down receivers in Philadelphia for the next decade.

And when you pair Mitchell with DeJean, who adds another layer of versatility and talent to that secondary, the 2024 draft class at cornerback might end up being one of the best position-group hauls any team has pulled off in recent years. The Eagles went from a position of concern to a position of strength in one night, and they did it without mortgaging future capital.