The Indianapolis Colts Should Draft This Shutdown Cornerback

The Indianapolis Colts must improve their defensive secondary. With that said, they need to draft Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell. One of the top cornerback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, Mitchell should be available when the Colts pick at No. 15 overall.

Indianapolis re-signed cornerback Kenny Moore II earlier this offseason. The veteran is locked into the slot and 2023 second-round pick JuJu Brents has shown promise. Yet, the team could still use another outside corner.

The Colts were rumored to trade for CB L’Jarius Sneed this offseason. However, he was eventually sent to the Tennessee Titans. Failing to land the two-time Super Bowl champ of any other free-agent cornerback thus far, Indy could look to draft a possible future star like Mitchell.

The Indianapolis Colts Should Select Quinyon Mitchell in the 2024 NFL Draft

College Star at Toledo

Quinyon Mitchell played four seasons with the Toledo Rockets. He recorded seven tackles as a freshman during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. The following year, he produced 34 total tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble, and eight pass breakups.

In 2022, Mitchell returned five interceptions for 51 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 41 tackles and 19 passes defended. The Florida native earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording four interceptions and two pick-sixes against Northern Illinois. Mitchell was named to the All-Mid-American Conference first team and was selected as a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation.

Last season, Mitchell had 41 tackles, an interception, and 18 passes defended. He became the first Toledo player to ever finish as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award. He was also selected as a first-team All-American for the second straight year.

Mitchell is expected to be just the second first-round pick out of Toledo in NFL draft history. Defensive end Dan Williams was the first, selected by the Denver Broncos 11th overall in 1993.

Why the Colts Should Draft Quinyon Mitchell

The Colts finished last season ranked 20th in passing defense. They gave up 3,666 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only 15 interceptions. They also allowed 215 yards per game.

Drafting Mitchell would be a great addition to the Colts secondary. The six-foot, 195-pounder possesses size, length, explosiveness, and ball skills, which can help him develop into a shutdown corner. Mitchell has an instinct for the ball, allowing him to make pass deflections and interceptions. He has high-end speed as well, running a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.

It was an interesting 2023 for the Colts cornerback room. Last offseason, the team traded former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys. Isaiah Rodgers was released before the season following a gambling suspension. Dallis Flowers later suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 4. Kenny Moore II played well and so did the JuJu Brents-Jaylon Jones rookie duo.

Mitchell could be the next cornerback pickup for the team. And if that’s the case, they’d be adding a playmaker who could eventually help the secondary immensely. Brents, Moore, Jones, and Mitchell could lead the way for several years, containing some of the league’s top wide receivers.