Diggs & Bland Mysteriously Low in Cornerback Rankings

The Dallas Cowboys are expecting a lot from Trevon Diggs in 2024, after his ACL tear early last year. They also believe he will be healthy enough to begin participating at training camp at the end of July, a good sign that he can return to All-Pro form.

So why has Pro Football Focus seemed to almost forget who the Cowboys cornerback is?

It's predictable to see Diggs fall in the rankings due to his knee injury, but to have him fall in such a drastic way is a bit dramatic. Players are coming back from these ACL tears quicker than they have in the past, thanks to the advances in modern medicine.

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PFF's reason for the fall does deal with his injury, but also seems to be linked to his drop in interceptions from 2021 to 2022. ... as they have him at No. 19, writing, "This will be a big year for Diggs as he returns from an injury-shortened 2023. After hauling in an incredible 11 interceptions in 2021, Diggs hauled in just three in 2022."

While Diggs is coming off an injury, running back DaRon Bland isn't ... and he had one of the best seasons of any cornerback in 2023. Yet Bland is ranked at No. 31.

They write: "Bland's ranking will likely upset many Cowboys fans. Yes, the 2022 fifth-rounder set the NFL's pick-six record in 2023, and his 14 interceptions over the last two years paces the league. But he’s almost a carbon copy of teammate Trevon Diggs in the risk-it-all for-the-biscuit style of play.

"Bland has allowed 1.35 yards per cover snap the last two years, which ranks 111th among qualifiers, while his 1,351 yards allowed is 11th-most. The interceptions are obviously valuable, but that number is not likely to be sustainable long-term."

It seems PFF believes the Cowboys duo can't sustain their levels of interceptions, leading to their dropping on the list. That can be accurate.

But Bland sharing a playing style with Diggs? We've never heard it put that way.

And there is this, just so we're straight: Diggs is being downgraded because he "hauled in just three interceptions in 2022'' ... while at the same time, Bland isn't being upgraded even though he "set the NFL's pick-six record in 2023, and his 14 interceptions over the last two years paces the league.''

PFF can't have it both ways.