Quinyon Mitchell didn’t just show up in Philadelphia and fit in. He changed the temperature of the whole defense.
That’s the biggest reason he was voted No. 1 on the Eagles’ top-25 players list heading into the 2026 season, a ranking put together by Eagles On SI Publisher/Editor Jeff Kerr along with beat writers Ed Kracz and John McMullen. When a cornerback can make opposing quarterbacks look elsewhere, that kind of impact tends to rise to the top fast.
Mitchell’s numbers explain the case. He didn’t allow a passing touchdown in 576 coverage snaps last season.
Quarterbacks who did throw his way completed only 39.6% of those passes and posted a 47.6 passer rating. He didn’t pick off a pass, but he also wasn’t targeted much, which is exactly what a shutdown corner is supposed to do.
And the bigger picture is even louder. Over the last two seasons, the Eagles have allowed the NFL’s lowest passer rating at 79.0, the fewest yards per attempt at 6.2, the fewest pass touchdowns at 36, and the lowest completion rate at 59.5%. The source material ties that stretch to the moment the Eagles drafted Mitchell in the first round two years ago.
Kerr and McMullen both had Mitchell at No. 1 on their ballots, while Kracz placed him third. The difference came down to the way the list was built and how each voter valued Cooper DeJean. Kerr had DeJean fifth, McMullen had him second and Kracz had him first, which gave Mitchell the edge overall.
McMullen said the list was meant to be a snapshot of where the Eagles stand entering 2026, not a debate about pedigree or raw production. He framed it with a simple standard: “It’s Bill Belichick rules -- Who does their job the best?”
By that measure, Mitchell makes a very strong case. McMullen pointed to his First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2025, coming after he played a key role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run as a rookie. He also noted that Mitchell has quickly become one of the league’s premier cornerbacks, with former teammate Darius Slay praising his football IQ and his ability to adapt right away to Vic Fangio’s man-match coverages.
Kracz saw it differently and put DeJean at No. 1.
His argument was centered on versatility. He said DeJean is the best defensive back in the league and can line up in the slot, on the outside, and at strong safety.
DeJean played more than 100 snaps at each of those spots last year and could see even more work at safety this season depending on how second-year player Andrew Mukuba and veteran Marcus Epps perform.
DeJean also brought plenty of production in 2025. Entering his third season, he finished second on the team in tackles with 85 behind Zack Baun’s 123, and his two interceptions tied him for second on the team behind Jalyx Hunt’s three.
Still, Mitchell and DeJean were both named First Team All-Pro by The Associated Press last year, which makes the top of this list a tight call either way. The final vote went Mitchell’s way, and the reason is pretty clear: when he’s on the field, opposing passing games tend to disappear around him.
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Eagles Camp Suddenly Has A Backup QB Decision That Matters
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Philadelphia does not have to settle the issue immediately, but it does have to decide how much room it wants to devote to the quarterback room. The Eagles could carry four passers into the season, or they could use the preseason to sort out whether a trade makes more sense, especially if the competition between McKee and Dalton stays tight while Payton tries to carve out a role of his own. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper DeJean Had The Perfect Reaction To Phillys Stunning New Arrival
Cooper DeJean had plenty to say after Philadelphia landed a headline-grabbing new arrival, and the Eagles cornerbacks reaction fit the moment. DeJean has already become one of the more intriguing young pieces on the roster, and his excitement only added to the buzz around a city that rarely misses a chance to celebrate a major addition.
The bigger subplot for the Eagles is how DeJean keeps fitting into Vic Fangios plans on defense. Fangio and analyst Chase Senior have discussed using him more at safety and in the slot to get him on the field in different ways, which only raises the stakes for a player already viewed as a key part of Philadelphias secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Camp Comes With A Problem This Roster May Not Survive
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The challenge is that not every good young player can stay in Philadelphia forever, especially once the cap starts forcing choices. Mitchell already looks like the kind of corner who can change the market, Smith is stepping into a bigger role, and Steen has been handed a clear runway at right guard, while others like Ojomo may be pricing themselves into a different future altogether. For a team that wants to keep contending, camp is not just about sorting the depth chart. It is also a preview of which pieces this roster might not be able to survive losing. [Read more 🡒]