Making the transition to the NFL is never an easy one for a rookie cornerback. 2020 was especially difficult with the elimination of offseason training activities, minicamps, and preseason games. An abbreviated training camp put the rookies behind their veteran counterparts coming into this unprecedented season. After some struggles early in the season, Trevon Diggs started to show signs of the player that the Cowboys thought he could be when they selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Per Pro Football Focus, Trevon Diggs graded out as the best rookie cornerback in the NFL from weeks seven to 17 of the season. In fact, among players who played at least 153 snaps during that same span, Diggs ranked sixth in the NFL among all cornerbacks.
of the season were tied for third in the NFL among all corners and led all rookies. He showed a knack for playing the ball in the air and coming down with the pick. He made life quite difficult for Philadelphia Eagles’ Quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts with all three coming against the Eagles’ starters.
Diggs’ 58.8% completion percentage allowed was 38th in the NFL, just behind RIchard Sherman at 58.3% and ahead of Tre’Davious White and Diggs’ three interceptions over the final stretchMalcolm Butler.
While it wasn’t a perfect year, Diggs showed a lot of promise in his first year and added an element in the turnover battle that the Cowboys had been looking for at cornerback. There’s a lot to be excited about with Trevon Diggs as he enters a full offseason with the Cowboys. Even as the Cowboys look to add another corner in the 2021 NFL Draft, it shouldn’t minimize the ability or the efforts that Diggs displayed in his rookie year on his way to becoming the Cowboys’ best cornerback.
As they retool the defense, they can feel comfortable knowing that they have at least one of their cornerback spots solidified for the next several years.
