The Green Bay Packers must use the 2020 NFL Draft to provide the finishing touches on a team that won 13 regular-season games and got within one game of the Super Bowl during Matt LaFleur’s first season as head coach.
Between now and the draft, Packers Wire will periodically break down one top prospect fitting the Packers’ roster needs.
Up next is Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs:
What he can do
– Terrific length for cornerback. A shade over 6-1, with long arms. Wingspan of almost 79″. Great for covering all the big, long receivers in the NFL
– Brother of former Vikings receiver Stefon Diggs. Ball skills are top-notch. Looks like a receiver with the ball in the air
– Press cornerback all day. Lives to make life difficult for receivers releasing off the line. This is where he’ll win in the NFL
– Long speed could be a question mark. Didn’t run at the combine. Relying on speed isn’t really his game
– Love the instincts. Has a feel for route combinations and understands passing concepts, allowing him to anticipate routes and take chances. Not a freelancer, more of a playmaker
– Was a lockdown coverage player as a senior. Gave up only one touchdown pass and a passer rating of 44.5 over 417 cover snaps, per PFF
– LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase gave him some BIG problems. Lone touchdown allowed came against Chase, who gave everyone problems
– Not always an explosive player when changing direction. Caused some issues on in-breaking routes. Problem could be amplified at the next level
– Excellent covering in intermediate range. Uses length and strength to disrupt routes at the line of scrimmage and challenge throws downfield. Disruptive at the catch point
– Experienced playing trail coverage on the outside
– Needs to be less grabby while recovering. Will get flagged a bunch at the next level if it isn’t corrected
– Knows how to use the sideline to his advantage. Traps receivers there
– Really good at timing his jump with the ball incoming. Broke up a bunch of passes downfield this way
– A little shaky tackling in the open field (see: attempts to tackle LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire)
– Like his edge contain/fit against the run
– Mostly played out wide. Only a few snaps inside. Projected as a perimeter corner at the next level
– Looked like an important pre-snap communicator for the Alabama secondary. Moved teammates around and got everyone in the right spots
– Has return experience. Has some of his brother’s run-after-catch ability. Came to Alabama as a receiver, also scored a touchdown on a jet sweep play
How he fits
Mike Pettine and the Packers prefer physical cornerbacks who can win at the line of scrimmage on the perimeter. That’s Diggs. The problem? The Packers have Kevin King and Jaire Alexander, who both play on the perimeter. Where does Diggs fit into the equation? He doesn’t look ideally suited to play in the slot. In terms of long-term planning, Diggs could be the answer to potentially losing King in free agency following the 2020 season. Teams can never have enough good cover people, and Diggs would ensure cornerback isn’t a long-term need.
NFL comp
James Bradberry. Both are long, aggressive cornerbacks who win at the line of scrimmage and battle receivers down the field. Diggs’ best long-term projection might be Josh Norman.
Where Packers could get him
Likely at No. 30, although there’s an outside chance he could be available in the second round. There’s no real consensus on the cornerback rankings. For most evaluators, Diggs is a top-50 player.
Previous Prospects for the Pack
WR Tee Higgins
LB Kenneth Murray
LB Patrick Queen
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Justin Jefferson
TE Harrison Bryant
WR Denzel Mims
WR Brandon Aiyuk
WR/TE Chase Claypool
LB Zack Baun
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither
OT Josh Jones
OT Austin Jackson
S Antoine Winfield Jr.
DL Raekwon Davis
DB Xavier McKinney
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
DL A.J. Epenesa
TE Hunter Bryant
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Zack Moss
WR Michael Pittman
WR K.J. Hamler
WR John Hightower
LB Jordyn Brooks
LB Troy Dye
LB Willie Gay Jr.
OT Jack Driscoll
WR Devin Duvernay
OT Ezra Cleveland
WR Van Jefferson
OT Andrew Thomas
S Grant Delpit
TE Cole Kmet
OT Tristan Wirfs
QB Jordan Love
RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
DB Jeremy Chinn
RB/WR Antonio Gibson
DL Jordan Elliott
DB K’Von Wallace
WR Bryan Edwards
DL Ross Blacklock
LB Logan Wilson
DL Justin Madubuike
RB Cam Akers
LB Malik Harrison
RB Darrynton Evans
WR Lynn Bowden Jr.
WR Gabriel Davis
LB Josh Uche