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Cameron Mitchell

Cameron Mitchell Player Profile

Summary

Cameron Mitchell is a cornerback who entered the NFL in the 5th round (142nd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, selected by the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland Browns He played college football at Northwestern, where over his career he posted 119 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 20 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Cleveland Browns In his rookie NFL season (2023), he recorded 17 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 pass breakups, contributing to a Browns defense that ranked highly in passing yards allowed. Cleveland Browns According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his 2024 coverage grade was 55.3, while his overall grade dipped (out of 222 CBs, 52.9) as he faced growing pains. PFF Known for his competitiveness, physicality, and willingness to challenge receivers, Mitchell is still developing his technique at the pro level but shows a strong work ethic and good instincts.

Strengths

  • Physical competitiveness — Plays with good aggressiveness at the line and does not shy away from contact. PFF

  • Solid tackling ability — Reliable in open-field tackling; has made tackles and contributed in run support. Cleveland Browns

  • Instincts and feel for routes — Shows good anticipation and can break on the ball, often reading quarterbacks well.

  • Versatility — Can play multiple coverage roles (off-man, press, zone) and provides flexibility to defensive schemes.

  • Youth & developmental upside — As a recent 5th-round pick, he has room to grow, especially in technique and recognition.

  • Durability/resilience — Has shown capacity to earn snaps and stay active despite being a younger, lower-drafted CB.

Weaknesses

  • Coverage consistency — PFF grade suggests he can be beat in coverage; still developing high-level coverage technique. PFF

  • Ball production — Very limited interceptions so far; hasn’t produced many game-changing plays in turnovers. PFF

  • Recovery speed — May struggle against elite route runners or sudden breaks due to shorter top-end burst.

  • Complex scheme recognition — Still refining his processing of pro-level route concepts, stunts, and timing from NFL quarterbacks.

  • Grading in run defense — According to PFF, his run defense grade is among the lower tiers for CBs, which could be a liability in certain matchups. PFF

Fit & Outlook

Cameron Mitchell projects as a depth-to-start rotational cornerback who can grow into a more reliable outside (or nickel) option in the NFL. He’s especially useful for defenses that value physical press coverage and can deploy him in sub-packages where his aggressiveness and tackling matter. In the short term, he’s likely to continue working his way into more snaps, especially on special teams or in backup roles. Over the next few seasons, if he cleans up his technique, improves his coverage instincts, and continues to produce in run support, Mitchell could become a starter-level cornerback with a strong, well-rounded game. His ceiling is modest but promising — and his floor is solid as a capable rotational piece with starter upside.