Trevon Diggs has all of the tools to be a star cornerback. Could the Minnesota Vikings draft him in the first round and pair him with his older brother?
Stefon Diggs has been the talk of the offseason up to this point for the Minnesota Vikings as trade rumors swirl. With the NFL Draft less than two months away, it is time to shift our focus to his younger brother.
Trevon Diggs, a star cornerback out of Alabama, is an intriguing prospect in this year’s draft class. The Vikings need serious help in the secondary heading into the new season and Diggs is the perfect guy for Mike Zimmer’s vision.
Diggs has size and speed on the outside, immediately making him a favorable player for Zimmer. Recent social media activity suggests Trae Waynes is leaving Minnesota in free agency, leaving yet another hole in the secondary.
For the record, social media posting is almost meaningless, but there is some level of authenticity to a player’s personal posts.
Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, and Mackensie Alexander could all be gone come the start of the 2020 season. The Vikings would be losing three starting cornerbacks in a league that loves to throw the ball all over the yard.
Diggs, along with other cornerbacks, should be very much in play with the 25th overall pick in next month’s draft for Minnesota.
Trevon Diggs – CB (Alabama)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 205 pounds
Pros:
- Physical build at cornerback
- Excellent in zone coverage
- Straight-line and recovery speed
- Press coverage and jamming wide receivers at the line
- Ball skills when he anticipates the throw
- Length and recovery speed allow him to bait throws a bit
- Understanding of spacing and stacking coverages
Cons:
- Relies too heavily on his physical ability and gambles
- Getting his head turned down the field
- Stiff hips at times
- Lackluster tackler despite having the size to do it
- Injuries throughout college
Why he could rise:
The cornerback class is deep, but the top is a bit more spread out. With only two players securely ahead of Diggs at the position, he could rise to a team that is eager to grab a cornerback early.
Why he could fall:
Injuries are always a scary red flag when evaluating players. A broken foot in 2018 and some nagging injuries during his time at Alabama are cause for some concern. His 2019 season was also not as impressive as many expected heading into the year.
NFL Draft Projection:
Diggs is projected to be a top-40 pick in April’s NFL Draft. Some teams will love him in the first round while others will be content with waiting for him atop the second round. I have Diggs as the 14th overall player on my board and my second-best cornerback.
Projection: Late-first, early-second round