Cameron Mitchell NFL Draft Overview
Position: Cornerback
Height: 6′-0″
Weight: 195 pounds
School: Northwestern
2023 NFL Draft: Cameron Mitchell Scouting Report
Cameron Mitchell began his college football at Northwestern University, in 2019. He appeared in four games that season registering a single tackle. He was granted redshirt status for the 2019 season. During the Covid-19 shortened season of 2020, Mitchell played in eight of the Wildcats nine games. He made 18 tackles (nine solo, nine assisted), including half a sack, while also intercepting a pass and defending against five more. In 2021, Mitchell became a starting cornerback for the Wildcats, starting all 12 of their games that season. He registered 48 tackles (40 solo, eight assisted), while also forcing a fumble, recovering a fumble, and defending against six passes. In his final season in purple and white, Mitchell started 11 of the ‘Cats 12 games. He amassed a career-high 52 tackles (38 solo, 14 assisted), including a sack. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, had an interception, and defended against seven passes.
Strengths
- Initial punch to the receiver at the line, jars, and shocks;
- Is tenacious and physical against the run;
- Fights for the ball on contested passes, until the whistle blows;
- Has the ability to stick with the receiver and correctly anticipate their movements throughout the majority of routes;
- Has above-average strength, especially for a cornerback.
Weaknesses
- Herky-jerky movement especially when defending stop-and-go routes;
- If beaten vertically by the receiver, lacks speed burst to catch up to them;
- Below NFL average height for cornerbacks; will have difficulty against taller receivers;
- Closing speed to contest pass is below average;
- Shorter arms, making wrap-tackling difficult to carry out.
NFL Comparison: Alontae Taylor
Teams With Need At Position: Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders
Projection: Rounds 2-3
Bottom Line on Cameron Mitchell
Cameron Mitchell has what a lot of NFL scouts want which is why he will be drafted in either the second or third round of this weekend’s NFL Draft. Mitchell is physically aggressive with the receiver at the line and is tenacious on run defense. He also fights for the ball of the receiver on contested passes until he hears the whistle blow. Mitchell has the ability to stick with the receiver and is able to anticipate what they are going to do, with a high rate of success. He is exceptionally strong for a cornerback prospect. In an especially deep cornerback class, the choice of who to pick will be a difficult one for teams.
What may deter teams from using a pick on Mitchell is that his movement especially on stop-and-go routes is not biomechanically sound or refined as it could be. On the deep ball, if Mitchell gets beaten vertically he lacks the speed burst to catch up to the receiver. He will also need to improve his closing speed, especially on curl routes in order to break on and disrupt/contest the pass. He is below average height for an NFL cornerback and also has shorter arms which make wrap-tackling difficult for Mitchell to carry out. Mitchell’s strengths definitely outweigh his weaknesses and is a large part of why he will be chosen in a higher round, this weekend in Kansas City.
Main Photo Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
