Amari Cooper praises cornerback Trevon Diggs: 'He's legit'

Second-year Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs has put together an excellent sophomore campaign to-date, as the 2020 second-round pick out of Alabama was named September’s NFC Defensive Player of the Month.

The Cowboys are 2-1 to start the season, and Diggs is a big reason why. In just three games, Diggs has logged three interceptions and six defended passes — both totals leading the league — and on Monday he took one interception back for a 59-yard touchdown off Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

In just three games, Diggs has as many interceptions as his entire rookie season, and his teammates understand why. Star wide receiver Amari Cooper, who practices against Diggs every day, praised the young defensive back for his competitive nature.

“I’ve been telling people about Diggs. I go against him, so I would know. Even if I win the rep, you can tell just by the competitiveness of the guy. If he does get beat in practice, he’s always right there,” Cooper said. “He’s a ballhawk. He’s legit for sure.”

So far, Diggs has lived up to Cooper’s word. Opposing quarterbacks this season have a passer rating of 40.8 when targeting Diggs. With his performance, he became the first Cowboys defensive back to win NFC Player of the Month and the third player overall to win the award in team history, joining DeMarcus Lawrence and Sean Lee.

Cooper isn’t the only Cowboys wideout to take note. Second-year wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was a fellow member of the Cowboys’ 2020 NFL Draft class, said that he sees Diggs as an All-Pro talent.

“We always knew Tre was a dog. Me personally, I did, coming in together and seeing him at Bama. I understand what was going on, I knew that Tre was a Pro Bowler or just an All-Pro DB. I look at him as that,” Lamb said.

Diggs has drawn some of the NFL’s toughest assignments this season, but he’s done an excellent job locking down DeVonta Smith, Mike Evans and Keenan Allen. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has been thrilled with Lamb’s production.

“[Diggs is] a receiver faking it as a D-back,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News. “He plays that ball and makes those special plays. And obviously, he’s not only got talent, but by the way, he’s worked to get in position to make those plays. He’s a difference-maker.”

Diggs has a chance to add onto his performance in the coming weeks, with a handful of upcoming matchups against weaker wide receiving corps. In Week 4, the Cowboys will seek to extend their division lead with Diggs locking down the Carolina Panthers.