From the moment Trevon Diggs arrived in Dallas, he was considered an atypical cornerback prospect. The converted receiver was new to the CB position, having played it just three seasons, and as such, played without the technique or polish most high-end draft prospects exhibit.
After Digg’s sophomore season with the Cowboys, where he pulled in a jaw-dropping 11 interceptions in 16 games, Diggs was labeled a gambler. His play provided a wide variance of outcomes that led to big plays for and big plays against.
His overall value sparked near-endless debate as he appeared to be the antitheses of polished and a true wildcard in the Cowboys’ secondary.
Following the 2022 season where Diggs’ interception numbers fell back to earth (3), the reviews were again mixed. He wasn’t as valuable without the high impact interception numbers (by EPA perspectives) but he also wasn’t giving up as much yardage against him either (Pro Football Reference attributed 673 yards in 2022 compared to 907 in 2021).
In his annual positional ranking with ESPN, Jeremy Fowler reported a poll of NFL executives, coaches and scouts moved Diggs up into the top-10 rankings, despite the significant decline in interceptions. He was called a “classic risk-reward” player, indicating his gambler label from college is alive and well.
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs doesn’t have a new contract less than two weeks from training camp; he’s got more interceptions and PBUs than any NFL corner since he came into the league!
Pay him and quit playing with me! #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/U4csWdGboi
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) July 15, 2023
Other statements like “I think he’s gotten better at gambling overall” and “It’s still a hinderance to his game” show him being the embodiment of a great Kenny Rogers song, is not a narrative that will ride off into the sunset anytime soon.
But is the gambler label still fair?
Diggs was drafted as an ultra-raw prospect and is still abnormally inexperienced today, even entering this, his fourth NFL season. He’s grown in discipline and technique each year he’s played the position, so isn’t it fairer to call him inexperienced rather than a gambler?