Tag: Trevon Diggs

Chiefs opt for cornerback help in Draft Wire’s latest first-round projections

A corner from the Alabama Crimson Tide will join the Kansas City Chiefs at pick No. 32 in Draft Wire’s latest mock draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been searching for cornerback help in the draft for a while now. We learned of their desire to draft a corner in 2018 during episode two of their season-long documentary series. Frankly, anyone could tell that it was a need heading into the 2019 season. They, of course, didn’t grab a corner until the fifth round of the draft when they added Rashad Fenton.

In Draft Wire’s Post-Super Bowl mock draft, the Chiefs finally get the cornerback they’ve long desired and they do so with No. 32 pick in the draft. This time they target one of the top corners in the SEC in Alabama corner Trevon Diggs. Here’s a look at Luke Easterling’s take on Kansas City grabbing Diggs.

“This defense was much improved in 2019, but they could still use another top talent to boost their corner lineup. Diggs is a big, athletic cover man with fantastic ball skills, with the frame and skill set Kansas City loves in their corners. Getting Diggs this late would be a huge win for the defending champs.”

Statistically speaking, Diggs has his best season yet for the Crimson Tide in 2019. He accumulated career highs in tackles, interceptions, and fumble recoveries. Diggs also has NFL bloodlines with his older brother being the miracle maker at wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, Stefon Diggs.

One area that could be a problem for the Chiefs is that he’s not overly physical as a tackler. He did show some improvement in this area in 2019, but if he’s expected to replace someone like Bashaud Breeland, he’ll likely disappoint in this area. He has the size to be successful here at 6-2 and 210 pounds, but he needs to have that mentality instilled in his game.

While cornerback is much easier to swallow than Kansas City taking a running back in the first round, don’t rule out Brett Veach going a different route in the draft. He learned this past season that he can build a Super Bowl-winning defense without investing top draft capital at the cornerback position. Perhaps he’ll opt to continue adding pieces on offense that makes this team even more challenging to defend.

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Vikings draft Stefon Diggs’ brother in NFL.com mock draft

In 2019, Diggs was named First Team All-SEC.

It’s no secret that the Vikings will need some help at cornerback in 2020. There’s a pretty good chance they could be without Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander.

That’s why it’s not much of a surprise that in Chad Reuter’s latest mock draft over at NFL.com, Reuter has the Vikings taking a cornerback in the first round. And not just any cornerback. Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, the brother of Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Here’s what Reuter wrote about the pick:

The Vikings’ secondary is due for a reboot this spring. Diggs gets to take on his brother, Stefon, in practice on a daily basis, which will be good prep for taking on the rest of the league’s top wideouts.

Diggs played four seasons at Alabama. As a senior, he finished with 37 tackles and three interceptions. He accounted for two defensive touchdowns. In 2019, he was named First Team All-SEC.

If the Vikings were to make this move, it would certainly be a fun one and would certainly be convenient for the Diggs familiy.

Pro Football Focus has Seahawks selecting CB in latest mock draft

Will the Seattle Seahawks break tradition and snag a cornerback in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft? Pro Football Focus thinks so.

The NFL season is officially over following the Kansas City Chiefs 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.

With that, players, coaches, front office folks, fans and media members will turn their attention toward the next big date on the NFL calendar: the draft.

Mock drafts have already been flying around the blogosphere, and the latest from Pro Football Focus has the Seattle Seahawks doing what they have been reticent to do under Pete Carroll and John Schneider: draft a cornerback in the first round.

While that is a practice Seattle has not participated in recently, it could make sense to buck that trend in 2020 after a poor campaign from Tre Flowers has left the team with a pretty heavy need on the outside opposite Shaquill Griffin.

Plus, Alabama corner Trevon Diggs is about as Seahawk-ey of a prospect as one will find in this draft, and if the team feels they won’t be able to get him in Round 2 it wouldn’t be too shocking to see them pony up a first rounder for him.

“The Seahawks love long corners as much as any team in the league, and Diggs is one of the longest to come out in recent memory,” Michael Renner of PFF wrote in his mock draft summary. “Length is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. And Diggs proved he could do that this past season, as he allowed a 44.5 passer rating against.”

Diggs is listed at six-foot-two and has a ton of length, with most scouts praising his ability as a zone corner and in press coverage – areas the Seahawks could use some help.

He’s also noted for his physicality and aggressiveness, and while he struggles in off-coverage he possesses the requisite size and skill to be an impact player in Pete Carroll’s cover-3 defense right away.

Seattle doesn’t draft cornerbacks in the first round is a common sentiment around the fanbase, but perhaps it’s time for Carroll and Schneider to break tradition and get a big time player for this depleted secondary.

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7 CB options that make sense for the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft

Trevon Diggs among 7 CB options for the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft is almost three months away, and with the deadline for underclassmen to announce whether they will enter draft having passed Monday, the business of preparing for the NFL Draft is upon us.

The Eagles have several big needs and there’s been some discussion about a full-scale rebuild in the secondary.

If the Eagles do choose to use a first or second-round pick on a cornerback, here are seven options that make the most sense.

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1. Kristian Fulton LSU

With Jalen Mills set to hit free agency, the Eagles could replace the former LSU cornerback with one of the current Tiger greats.

Fulton made an immediate impact when thrown into the fire and over the past two seasons, he’s been the highest-graded cornerback in America according to grades from PFF.

Fulton is elite at the point of attack, as he owns the highest forced incompletion rate the past two years, allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught.

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Saints upgrade the secondary, land potential franchise QB in three-round mock draft

It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections ( at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New …

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It’s going to be tough for the New Orleans Saints to upgrade in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they’ve beaten worse odds before. They have just two picks in the draft’s first 100 selections (at Nos. 24 and 88), which is more than they had last year. New Orleans still found a way to land a starting center in Erik McCoy and a dynamic defensive back in C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Their next draft class could be just as big. In the latest three-round mock draft from Luke Easterling over at Draft Wire, the Saints ended up with Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs in the first round and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts in the third round.

Right now, the Saints are projected to start Marshon Lattimore on one side at cornerback, Janoris Jenkins on the other end of the field, and put Gardner-Johnson in the slot. That could change depending on what happens with Jenkins’ contract (he’s currently counting $11.5 million against the salary cap), but for now Diggs wouldn’t be projected to start.

That may not be a bad thing. He’s a big corner (listed at 6-foot-2, 207 pounds) who converted to the position after being recruited as a wide receiver, and didn’t start consistently until his senior year, which saw him create five takeaways with three interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. He deflected eight passes in total. The size and playmaking ability is there; maybe he’d put it all together after some hard work in Saints training camp.

As for Hurts: he’s one of the best quarterbacks in this draft class, and it would be surprising if he’s available so late in the process. His play greatly improved under Lincoln Riley’s tutelage at Oklahoma. He could duplicate much of what Taysom Hill has accomplished in New Orleans, but offers the upside of gifted passing ability on top of all-world athleticism. With the future of the quarterback position far from certain for the Saints, it’s easy to like this pick.

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2020 NFL Draft: Trevon Diggs scouting report

Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs

Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

Height | 6-2

Weight | 207

College Bio Page

Career Stats

Strengths

If the name Diggs sounds familiar then you have seen Trevon’s older brother Stefon play in the NFL. Trevon can lean on his brother as he looks to make the jump from Alabama cornerback to NFL cornerback.

In the NFL, it is all the craze these days with long athletic cornerbacks and with Diggs, he fits that to a “t”. Diggs show the ability to use his length at the line of scrimmage in hopes of throwing off timing and re-routing the wide receiver. He uses his length to his advantage to contest catches with good back to the ball technique. Very good corner when playing in trail technique and has speed to close.

When looking at Diggs production, you wouldn’t think he has big time ball skills but his play proves it. Diggs finished his career with 17 passes defended and four interceptions including a pick six. He can attack the ball in the air and uses his length to do so.

Diggs is able to keep up with quicker wide receivers due to his footwork. You rarely see a false step with Trevon and that allows him to be in prime position to make a play on the ball. That will be a huge reason why Diggs is coveted by corner needy teams.

Weaknesses

If there is any one aspect of Diggs’ game that is concerning would be his tackling. He is a very inconsistent tackler and that can make him a liability in run game. Diggs needs to work with coaching on getting him up to speed with tackling technique, given his size being physical shouldn’t be a problem.

There will be some re-checking on Diggs’ medicals during the NFL Combine this year. He missed time in 2018 due to a broken ankle that required the team to move Xavier McKinney to corner from his safety spot.

Bottom Line

Diggs is one of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming class. The former wide receiver has the tools to help a team immediately. When he attacks the ball in the air, you aren’t sure if that is Trevon on Stefon.

Projection: Top 20

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2020 NFL Draft: Bills bolster both sides of the ball in 3-round mock

In the three-round mock draft, Easterling has the Bills drafting a cornerback in round one.

In Draft Wire’s most recent mock draft, published just before the New Year, Luke Eastering sees a scenario where the Bills further bolster their defense. Interestingly enough, Easterling has Buffalo in selecting a best-player-available scenario, strengthening the defense and searching for value on day two of the draft.

In the three-round mock draft, Easterling has the Bills drafting a cornerback in Round 1. Ultimately, the first selection would give the Bills a firm solution opposite Tre’Davious White.

Here’s how Draft Wire breaks down Diggs’ selection by the Bills:

Rd. 1 Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama

This defense already boasts one of the NFL’s top corners in Tre’Davious White, but the Bills could use an upgrade on the other side of the field. Diggs has the size, athleticism and ball skills to make an immediate impact for one of the league’s best units.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Trevon Diggs. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Diggs was named an All-American by various publications and analysts, ranging from a first-team selection to a third-team choice. He intercepted three passes this year and allowed a passer rating of only 44.5 when targeted this year. Diggs elected not to play in the Citrus Bowl this year.

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BAMA BEAT: Alabama football news and updates (Ep. 283)

Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson talk about players skipping the bowl, where mock drafts have Alabama players and conspiracy theories with fans.

Cecil Hurt and Clint Lamb, through TideSports.com and The Tuscaloosa News, produce a podcast called “The ‘Bama Beat”, which features all the latest news and analysis surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide.

In this episode, Lamb and Brett Hudson sit down to talk about Trevon Diggs and Terrell Lewis skipping the Citrus Bowl, where mock drafts have some of the Alabama players and the concept of conspiracy theories with fans.

The two also made sure to cover the absence of the Crimson Tide on some first-team All-American lists.

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Alabama’s Trevon Diggs, Terrell Lewis to skip bowl game

Two of Alabama’s top defenders are skipping the Crimson Tide’s bowl game and are expected to declare for the 2020 NFL draft

While most of the Alabama Crimson Tide will be preparing for a Citrus Bowl date with the Michigan Wolverines, two of their top defenders will be getting ready for the next chapter in their respective football journeys.

Cornerback Trevon Diggs and outside linebacker Terrell Lewis are skipping the bowl game, head coach Nick Saban confirmed Monday:

Diggs and Lewis are both expected to be early picks in the 2020 NFL draft, though no official declarations have come from either player just yet. Both are widely regarded among the top prospects at their respective positions, and could easily end up sneaking into the first round depending on the results of predraft workouts.

Underclassmen have until January 20th to make their official decision on either returning to school or making the jump to the next level.

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Terrell Lewis and Trevon Diggs will not play in the Citrus Bowl

On Monday, Saban confirmed that Alabama’s outside linebacker Terrell Lewis and cornerback Trevon Diggs are sitting out of the Citrus Bowl

On Monday, Nick Saban confirmed that Alabama’s outside linebacker Terrell Lewis and cornerback Trevon Diggs are sitting out of the Citrus Bowl against Michigan and will instead, be spending their time preparing for the NFL Draft.

Besides Lewis and Diggs, it appears all of the other healthy players are choosing to play, including Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, Dylan Moses, and more.

DJ Dale will also not play in the Citrus Bowl, but that is due to injury.

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