Heading into the playoffs, the Green Bay Packers still have a plethora of decisions to make regarding the pecking order at multiple positions. Most of those are due to the abundance of injuries they have suffered. However, the speculation at the cornerback position centers on the players’ performance, at least at the top of the depth chart.
Green Bay’s cornerback room is in an interesting spot. They have had their fair share of injuries. Nate Hobbs and Kamal Hadden are on IR, depleting their depth. Meanwhile, Micah Parsons‘ injury has exposed Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine‘s flaws. The Packers had to go out of their way to add depth by claiming former Dallas Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs and taking on a $500k cap hit for one regular-season game and the playoffs.
While I believe the claim is more for next season, he played well in his lone game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday (81.5 PFF Grade). He also does something the Green Bay corners have been mostly incapable of this season: catch the ball when it hits him in his hands.
Trevon Diggs will play a role on Saturday. The question is, how big is that role?
Regarding Diggs potentially helping and starting in the playoffs, Matt LaFleur said, “I think so, absolutely,” on Monday via Jason B. Hirschhorn. “He’s been putting in extra time and meeting with [Derrick Ansley] and the rest of our DB coaches. He’s been doing a really nice job.”
Diggs has had a down season. Opposing teams had a perfect 158.3 passer rating against him when targeted before being cut. However, he’s only been targeted 20 times and has a 62.4 (average) PFF coverage grade in eight games this season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys had the league’s third-worst defense by yards given up this year.
However, Diggs has been a high-level player recently (First Team All-Pro in 2021, Pro Bowler in ‘21 and ‘22). He’s a ballhawk with tremendous ball skills. His 11 interceptions in 2021 were a bit flukey because the coverage wasn’t consistent despite the production. Still, he improved in every area in 2022, going from a 58.5 PFF grade in 2021 to a 67.6 PFF grade in 2022.
Trevon Diggs took another leap in a small sample size in 2023, posting an 80.7 PFF grade in 101 coverage snaps before tearing his ACL. He was on pace to be a truly elite all-around corner rather than just an elite ball hawk. Since his ACL injury, he has not been the same, and it ultimately led to his release.
He’s a smart bet for the Packers in the long term. Taking a shot on a once-elite player who suffered a devastating injury and may need a change of scenery is the type of bet Green Bay needs to take to fill out its roster with its cap situation. In the short term, on Saturday, I think it’s a smart bet to give Diggs the starting nod as well.
Given the state of this defense after the Parsons and Devonte Wyatt injuries, Green Bay needs to create more turnovers to compensate for the missing talent. Diggs can do that. With 20 interceptions in 67 games over his six-year career, it is an elite trait of his and something Green Bay’s defense craves.
Green Bay’s defense was the only other team in the NFL to have zero interception return yards, along with the New York Jets, who had no interceptions all season. Green Bay’s defense has created just 14 turnovers and has seven interceptions all season, both of which rank in the bottom fourth of the NFL. The corner play has been inconsistent all season, and it has stood out even more since the Parsons injury.
With Trevon Diggs coming in and potentially taking snaps away from Nixon and Valentine, their deployment will look different as well. If Diggs starts, I’d assume Nixon will start across from him and play primarily on early downs because he’s a better tackler than Valentine. Valentine could then spell Nixon in obvious passing situations because he is the better coverage player.
With Nixon potentially having a somewhat diminished role and this game being a win-or-go-home affair, the question is: Should Nixon be returning kicks?
With everything being on the line in this game, it’s nearly a necessity. Savion Williams and Bo Melton, Green Bay’s primary kick returners, are on IR. Given Nixon is an All-Pro kick returner, I don’t see why that wouldn’t be the obvious solution. Emanuel Wilson has done some kick returning alongside Melton since Savion Williams‘ injury, and he does a good job of running straight, hard, not doing too much, and getting what’s blocked for him. Still, only Nixon can truly create an advantage.
I understand avoiding using Nixon as the kick returner during the regular season. He’s a starter, and you don’t want him to get injured. However, it’s the playoffs, and this could be the last game of the season. There’s no more trying to stay healthy. It’s now or never.
With a diminished version of this defense, Green Bay needs to find ways to create advantages across the field. That starts by deploying its cornerbacks differently in all facets of the game.
