Dallas Cowboys: Could Trevon Diggs become the next Marcus Peters?

Rookie CB Trevon Diggs already looks like a Marcus Peters-like player for the Dallas Cowboys

It’s hard to find many “bright sides” to the Dallas Cowboys this season. In a season where virtually anything that could have gone wrong, has gone wrong, optimism is often met with scoffs and disgust in Cowboys Nation.

But after Trevon Diggs pulled in his first two interceptions of his career last Sunday, optimism around the rookie cornerback reigns supreme. And the hopes and expectations of the cornerback from Alabama have gone through the roof. What does his future hold? How good can he be? Whom does he best compare?

Player comparisons are always difficult. You either aim too high in your comparison and look like a homer or you aim too low and look like a “Debbie Downer”. In this damned if you do, damned if you don’t exercise, a certain level of open mindedness and understanding is needed. So when I say Diggs looks like a Marcus Peters starter kit, I’m not saying he is, but simply comparing styles and setting some expectations.

"“He makes a ton of plays, and even some of them – they’re always contested,” Sean Lee said of Diggs. “He plays so hard, he’s so talented for a young guy. The plays he makes, you don’t see young guys making that. It’s a matter of time before he’s one of the best players in the league. I think that he’s that good – that good of a player, that good of an athlete, that good of a person. I think he’s a great young player.”"

Similarities

When assessing the game style of Trevon Diggs, it’s hard not to think of 2x All-Pro, Marcus Peters. Peters, currently of the Baltimore Ravens, has been a bit of journeyman in his fairly young NFL career. He burst onto the scene in 2015 when he collected a staggering eight interceptions enroute to his first of many Pro Bowls.

What many people seem to forget is what came with all of those big plays…

In 15 games that season, Marcus Peters was the most targeted CB in the NFL (132 targets) according to Pro Football Focus. He gave up 923 yards and seven touchdowns as well. That’s 61.5 yards per game and 8.8 targets per game, in case you’re wondering. Simply put, he was equal parts boom and bust.

https://twitter.com/dallascowboys/status/1323091992444915713

Diggs is similarly an oft-targeted wildcard in the secondary. At the halfway point, he’s already been targeted 59 times and given up four touchdowns and 524 yards. That’s 65.5 ypg and 7.4 tpg for those keeping track at home. Pretty darn interesting, huh?

While Peters hit the ground running in interceptions, it’s taken Diggs just about half the season to start pulling in the picks (the skills were apparent, though). What makes up for that is Peters was also a much bigger liability than Diggs early in his rookie campaign.

The first eight games of Marcus Peters’ career, he was targeted almost nine times per contest and gave up over 72 yards per game. He allowed a 60.7% completion percentage and a passer rating over 100 as well. Diggs through this first stretch: 54.2 comp% and 92.8 passer rating.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1323100420743458821

The numbers aren’t the only thing that’s similar, the style of play is as well. Both players boast next-level ball skills and can see, track, and catch balls that most cornerbacks cannot. They aren’t afraid to look back for the ball, even if it means potentially getting burned. Both players are highly confident and as such, embrace the boom or bust nature of their games.