And with overhyped teams come overhyped players. This season, the Cowboys’ offense appears to be everything it’s cracked up to be. Should Dak Prescott play, Mike Zimmer and his rejuvenated defense will have all they can handle trying to stop one of the best rush/pass combos in football.

But the same thing cannot be said about the Cowboy defense… or their overhyped 2nd-year cornerback, Trevon Diggs.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer was the Cowboys’ defensive backs coach when Deion Sanders played in Dallas. Zimmer was asked yesterday about people comparing Trevon Diggs to Deion: “I mean, Deion’s in the Hall of Fame, so let’s wait a while, OK?”

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) October 28, 2021

Dallas ranks 20th in points allowed and 23rd in yards allowed this season That’s not very good. Now their rush defense looks good on paper, ranking 2nd in touchdowns allowed (5) and 9th in yards allowed (517). But that’s what happens when, thanks to your offense, opponents are always coming from behind and can’t afford to run the ball against you.

Hype-Meter Overload

But the most overhyped piece of Dallas’ defense is 2nd-year cornerback, Trevon Diggs, who currently leads the NFL with 7 interceptions in just 6 games. Those INT’s have also led to ridiculous press conference questions like the one you see above, comparing Diggs to the greatest defensive back of all time, Deion Sanders.

A deeper dive into the numbers, however, tells us that Trevon Diggs isn’t worth the hype he’s receiving. While interceptions will make up for a lot of deficiencies, not to mention what they do for your value as a cornerback, they’re not necessarily the best indicator of your coverage skills.

Diggs, for example, owns a Defensive Player of the Month award (September), thanks to his league-leading 7 interceptions, 11 passes defended and 2 non-offensive touchdowns. But he’s also tied for 8th-most targets in the NFL and has given up 19 yards per reception he’s allowed.

PFF isn’t a big fan, either.

Trevon Diggs is as overhyped as the team he plays for.

Put AT and JJ in your DFS lineups this weekend. #Vikings pic.twitter.com/c0Ukm9wYdz

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 30, 2021

Even Trevon’s relatively solid 71.9 coverage grade isn’t what it seems. Diggs has faced quarterbacks Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and (rookie) Mac Jones in his last three outings.

In those matchups, he failed to post a PFF coverage grade higher than 60. He scored a 41.8 vs the Panthers, 59.0 vs the Giants and a 47.6 against the Patriots. Remember, those coverage grades all include interceptions. What was he doing when he wasn’t picking off the QB and what is Kirk Cousins going to do against Little Diggs if those lesser QB’s picked him apart?

Oh, and did you peep that 29.9 grade against the run? Yikes. It’ll be interesting to see how often Kubiak runs swing passes, screens or outside zones at Diggs, who has struggled with consistent tackling for both of his seasons in the league.

Trevon Diggs may very well end up being the second-greatest cornerback to ever wear a Dallas Cowboys uniform but he isn’t that guy yet. Not even close. Right now, he’s just a young cornerback who likes to make the SportsCenter highlight reel and whose aggressiveness can be taken advantage of.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

It’s been quite the rollercoaster ‘19-‘20 for Vikings fans and Stefon Diggs. He was requesting trades and calling in “sick” early in the season… Since the season ended, it’s been his cryptic social media posts that have had Vikings’ fans scratching their heads in concern.

But instead of eliminating a Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings roster… what if we add one? Todd McShay, your thoughts?

There isn’t just smoke, with Trevon Diggs to the Vikings… We are going to need defensive backs when the 2020 offseason purge is completed. Like McShay mentions, our secondary could look completely different. We are in jeopardy of losing FIVE defensive backs, who are major pieces to our puzzle on that side of the ball (Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, Harris, Kearse).

The Vikings met with Trevon at the combine too, and clearly have interest.

Trevon Diggs mentions that he has met with the #Vikings, #Colts, and #Seahawks.

— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) February 28, 2020

I’d love this move. I want 1st round picks that are VERY likely to end up as better-than-serviceable players, early. Bringing Trevon into the Vikings locker room, to be mentored by Stefon, might be a no-miss scenario, on the field. Trevon has all of the tools to be a great defensive back and if you put him in that environment, and under the tutelage of Mike Zimmer…. good things will happen.

It might also (hopefully) force Stefon to grow up a little bit. With his younger brother in town, I’d hope his big brother instincts would kick in, and we’d see a more mature Stefon, for 2020-21. That’s almost just as important as bringing in another good defensive back.

As we saw at the combine (video below), the Diggs brothers are extremely close. I do worry a bit about how Stefon will take it, if Trevon is still on the board at 25, and the Vikings pick someone else.

In any other scenario involving two brothers in the NFL, “it’s just business”, would be the running theme from all parties, no matter the outcome. Nobody would be mad because, just getting to the NFL is impossible…. ending up on the same team as your brother isn’t even on your radar.

But the Diggs’ brothers aren’t logical when it comes to this sort of shit. You know Stefon would feel slighted, and you know we’d see cryptic social media posts that would send fans into another spiral of doubt.

#Alabama CB Trevon Diggs showed lots of love to his older brother Stefon today. An unbreakable bond has led both closer to finally reaching their dreams of facing off in the NFL.

My Story: https://t.co/yIkXbbc0Bm

— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) February 29, 2020

Talking to #Alabama CB Trevon Diggs about his older brother, Stefon, his face lit up when mentioning him and how he’s helped him throughout his life and this process: #FrontOffice33 | #NFLCombine @TrevonDiggs | @stefondiggs pic.twitter.com/eLDNXRJ4ZS

— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) February 28, 2020

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan