Ranking cornerbacks in the NFL is terribly difficult, as league decision-makers inadvertently told us with the release of the latest ESPN position rankings, which polls anonymous NFL coaches, executives, and scouts.
On Thursday, it was the cornerbacks' turn for a series that's sparked a lot of controversy around NFL media and fans, including at quarterback, in which Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott received no Top 6 votes despite being named a second-team All-Pro last season.
The difference between quarterbacks and cornerbacks, however, is that 1) there are not many stats to evaluate a cornerback and film evaluation - which implies a higher degree of subjective interpretation - becomes more important and, 2) no one will put the weight of wins and losses on a single corner like it happens with signal-callers.
Out of ESPN's Top 10 cornerbacks, seven were unraked in at least one ballot. The top name on the list, Denver Broncos' Patrick Surtain, received a No. 10 vote as his lowest ranking. Derek Stingley, who finished tenth in the ranking, was voted as the second best in another ballot. No one seems to agree on where these guys should be listed, not even the range.
But I think a large portion of the NFL fanbase would be surprised to hear that the Cowboys did not have a cornerback cracking the Top 10 ahead of the 2024 season.
We're talking about Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, both of whom have been first-team All-Pros, being snubbed from the Top 10. Bland doesn't even receive an honorable mention and his name barely shows up as someone who "also received votes."
Regarding Diggs, the fact that he missed most of the 2023 season might've contributed to being ranked below the Top 10, as at least one executive opined.
"He was hard to place because of the health issue [ACL tear in September] but he's still one of the best ball hawks and he's tried to play more disciplined in recent years," an AFC executive said via the article.
Bland and Diggs can prove everyone wrong in 2024
Fortunately for the Cowboys cornerback duo, they should be in a great position to send a message to NFL decision makers that disrespected them ahead of the upcoming season.
Bland's All-Pro season was about much more than setting a new single season pick-six record. He's become one of the best off-ball cornerbacks in the entire NFL and knows how to bait opposing quarterbacks only to snatch the football in ball hawk style. He's one of the biggest candidates on the Cowboys to graduate to superstar status this year.
As long as Diggs is healthy, No. 7 should return strong. Although many have dragged the 2021 criticisms about his boom-or-bust tendencies all the way to the present, he's been much better and consistent in coverage after picking off 11 passes and earning All-Pro honors.
Even with former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn out of the picture, the Cowboys should retain one of the top pass rushes in the league thanks to Micah Parsons' presence up front. It's easier to excel in coverage when the opposing quarterback is under relentless pressure in the pocket.
Not to mention, Mike Zimmer's arrival should make the cornerbacks' jobs a lot easier. The new Cowboys DC is expected to mix in more split-field coverages, which will put less pressure on Diggs and Bland, who had to play on one of the most man-to-man happy defenses in the entire league.
Having safety help more consistently on the backend should help Diggs and Bland put up a better stat sheet as they get some help from the scheme for the first time in a good chunk of time.
