Las Vegas Raiders fans (mostly) desperately want a quarterback to come out of the first round for their team, but The Athletic believes otherwise.
Looking through social media, the consensus really does appear to be Jayden Daniels or bust. Still, it’s best to remain grounded when it comes to the NFL draft. Trading up into the top three will be a monumental task for Raiders general manager Tom Telesco; to judge him solely on that (successful or not) will be highly shortsighted. The fact is, the Raiders have needs in several positions. That’s especially true on defense; with that said, maybe The Athletic’s Dane Brugler is onto something.
Raiders select Quinyon Mitchell, cornerback, Toledo…
“No defensive players in the top 12? The first defensive player selected is a MAC prospect? Neither outcome is crazy. Mitchell checks every box—tape, production, all-star game, and now combine testing (including a 4.33-second 40-yard dash).”
We can hear the collective groan from Raider Nation already. However, reloading the cornerback position isn’t a bad strategy, and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham would likely agree with that sentiment. Because Brugler has the Raiders sitting pat at 13th overall, the trade scenario doesn’t materialize. If this ends up happening, going with the best defensive player available should be Plan B.
So, what’s there to say about Mitchell?
The Toledo product made the most of his NFL combine appearance, but his collegiate production also speaks volumes. He led his conference (MAC) in pass deflections the last two seasons, with 18 last year and 19 in 2022, respectively. Pro Football Focus is also high on Mitchell’s coverage skills, grading him 91.6 in that department. His snap breakdown shows he played 677 outside wide by a mile; he’d clearly transition into a starting corner for the Raiders, handling a team’s top wideout.
A truly physical specimen, Mitchell has the tools you’d see in a running back prospect, such as size. On top of that, his tackling is noteworthy, along with the aforementioned coverage abilities. If the Raiders can’t trade up, Mitchell’s a nice consolation prize.
*Top Photo: Lon Horwedel, USA TODAY Sports
