If you're into box scores, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell isn't for you.
The rookie defensive back has generated zero interceptions and just 31 tackles through 10 games. In Thursday night's 26-18 victory over the Washington Commanders, his stat line read: one measly tackle.
It's hard to generate stats when offenses ignore you like a teenage crush.
Despite his status as a rookie, Mitchell has already generated respect from offenses for his physical style. They usually don't even test the greenhorn, electing to throw elsewhere. Thursday night, he was targeted just once. The pass went incomplete.
Mitchell silenced Commanders star receiver Terry McLaurin. The rookie lined up opposite McLaurin on 20 snaps Thursday. He was targeted zero times on those reps. McLaurin's only two targets (one catch for 10 yards) came against other DBs.
"I knew that I didn't really get thrown at," Mitchell said after the win, via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
McLaurin gave the first-year DB the highest compliment possible.
"He's a good corner," McLaurin said. "I think he plays well. He doesn't really play like a rookie."
It's not the first instance in which Mitchell has completely taken away an opponent's top target. Mitchell has not allowed more than 25 yards in a game since the Week 5 bye, per NFL Research. He held CeeDee Lambto one catch for 5 yards, Ja'Marr Chase to 16 yards on two catches, Amari Cooper to one catch for 10 yards, Mike Evans to two catches for 19, Drake London to one catch for 5 yards. And that's just a handful of his dominant performances.
Thursday night's 0/0/0 line from McLaurin should be Mitchell's Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign ad.
"Terry McLaurin is a hell of a ball player, but we got a first-round corner for a reason," Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said of his teammate, via James Palmer of Underdog.
Mitchell has allowed 0.5 yards per coverage snap, the second-fewest among cornerbacks (min. 100 coverage snaps), per Next Gen Stats.
For his part, Mitchell isn't basking in the spotlight. He just goes about his business, silences stars and moves on to the next.
"My approach is staying the same, each and every day, coming into work, studying on my own, studying with the coaches," Mitchell said. "I feel like everybody on the team is real hard on me. They expect better from me, and I appreciate it."
Corner is a notoriously volatile position. Even some of the best DBs can get picked on for stretches. The fact that Mitchell has played this well over this many games as a rookie is somewhat mindboggling. DROY usually goes to a stat-stuffing pass rusher. This year, the best defensive rookie thus far -- with all due respect to Jared Verse -- has been a corner.
