Sunday’s game between the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys has a couple of marquee matchups, but Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs isn’t sweating the task of guarding Saints wideout Chris Olave. Diggs responded with indifference when asked what challenges Olave presents as New Orleans’ No. 1 wide receiver.
“Is that a trick question?” Diggs replied. When pressed, he responded, “He’s a good player.”
Fans looking for disrespect are going to find it in a statement like that, though you could just as easily read Diggs’ comments as quiet confidence. He’s earned that swagger after intercepting 19 passes through his first 48 games, which won him two Pro Bowls and a spot on the All-Pro first team in 2021. If Diggs isn’t eager to talk his opponent up too highly, well — that’s his choice.
At the same time, it’s not like Diggs is an invincible cover corner. He’s known as a gambler with as many big takeaways and clutch pass breakups as big completions allowed into his coverage. Pro Football Reference found that he led the league in receiving yards given up (907) during that same 2021 season he won All-Pro recognition. And the gap between Diggs and the next-ranked cornerback, James Bradberry, was almost as wide as that between Bradberry and the sixth-ranked corner.
But it’s a new year. Diggs didn’t allow nearly as many yards in 2022 and he missed all but two games in 2023 due to injury. He had an interception in the season opener last week while yielding just 19 yards in coverage on 11 targets, so he’s clearly playing well right now. The Saints should be looking to lean on their run game against the Cowboys, but there will times when they need to complete a pass. It would be awful vindicating for his fans if Olave can get the better of this matchup when the ball goes his way.
