Dallas Cowboys 2020 rookie grades: Touted class delivers mixed bag

If there was any criticism of the franchise’s decision to take Lamb in the first round, it was the fact that they didn’t address a secondary that lost Byron Jones during free agency. That left the cornerback room in a tough spot it seemed after the first round subsided.

More from NFL Spin Zone

• Dallas Cowboys made the trade everyone else should have made
• Pittsburgh Steelers rookie sleeper everyone should be talking about
• Anthony Richardson putting jaw-dropping talent on display immediately
• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Lucky for them, they saw Trevon Diggs — a player who they’d been connected to with the 17th overall pick — fall in their laps in the second round. Diggs undoubtedly didn’t hit the ground running as he was part of a defensive back group that was picked apart early in the season. But much of that was outside of his control.

With a defensive line that took a bit to come into form and a linebacker corps that struggled throughout the year, Diggs was put in a lot of bad spots throughout the year, especially right out of the gate. But when it came to showcasing his ability in coverage, Diggs delivered in a very real way for the Cowboys, at least when healthy as he did miss time with a broken foot.

Diggs finished his rookie season with three interceptions and 14 passes defended. His trio of picks was more than the six cornerbacks selected before him in the draft had combined. Moreover, he was effective overall in sticking with his man and looked the part of a possible No. 1 corner.

The Cowboys are expected to lose a number of cornerbacks in free agency this offseason, though that may not be all bad. Diggs will, in turn, become a focal point of the defense. With what he showed in his rookie season, Dallas can feel confident in him assuming that role.