Rookie Player Profile: Stefon Diggs
Combine
Height: 6’-0”
Weight: 195 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.46 seconds
Vertical: 35 inches
Broad Jump: 115 inches
3-Cone Drill: 7.03 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.32 seconds
Video Clips
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Strengths
Quick in and out of his breaks, Diggs runs solid routes and gains regular separation using head and shoulder fakes at the top of his routes in man coverage. Against a zone, he shows a knack for finding windows in the coverage and presents a good target for his quarterback.
Throughout his time at Maryland, Diggs demonstrated good ball skills. With excellent hands, he regularly catches the ball away from his body and showed the ability to make contested catches. He also displayed the ability to adjust to poor throws on a regular basis while in college and despite his lack of height, showed a willingness to catch the ball at a high point when necessary.
The most impressive part of Diggs’ game is what he’s able to do after the catch. Truly electrifying, he quickly transfers from receiver to runner once the ball gets in his hands. With exceptional change of direction skills and an incredible burst, he makes shaking defenders in the open field look effortless at times and is a threat to turn the simplest bubble screen or shallow crossing route into a big play.
Weaknesses
Despite being a solid route runner with excellent hands and being able to contribute both offensively and on special teams as a dynamic returner, Diggs will likely be limited to only slot receiver duties at the next level. Due to his slight stature and lack of physicality at the line of scrimmage, he struggles at times to get off of press coverage and doesn’t show the upper body strength to outmuscle more physical defensive backs. While in college he was regularly moved around as a motioning receiver which didn’t give defenses an opportunity to jam him at the line of scrimmage. He did a majority of his damage when afforded that luxury which will not always be possible at the next level.
Although he posted a solid 4.46 40-time at the combine, Diggs doesn’t show the type of deep speed that can regularly beat NFL corners over the top. Instead, he’ll have to depend on his explosion and quick route running to win on short to intermediate routes out of the slot.
Also struggling throughout his college career with injuries including a broken leg and a lacerated kidney, he will also have to prove at the next level that he can stay healthy.
Opportunities
Diggs is entering an interesting situation in Minnesota. Although their wide receiver depth chart features some intriguing names like Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson, the opportunity is there for a rookie to make a name for himself.
As a whole, the arrow is pointing up for the Vikings offense. With Adrian Peterson back from suspension and sure to force opposing defenses into eight man fronts, it’s reasonable to expect the Minnesota passing game to improve from a year ago. Teddy Bridgewater will look to build on a solid rookie campaign where he threw for 2,919 yards and 14 touchdowns in 13 games. With the emergence of Johnson as their top outside receiver, the addition of Wallace as their home run threat, and the return of Kyle Rudolph who should stretch the seam from the tight end position, the only hole left to fill among pass catchers is the slot receiver. That’s where Diggs will look to make his mark.
Threats
A year ago, Vikings receivers ran a total of 577 routes from the slot and were targeted 81 times on such routes. Greg Jennings, who is now in Miami, ran 377 of those routes and was the target of 54 of those passes. With Jennings vacating 65% of the slot routes and 68% of the slot targets, it’s fair to say the slot receiver role is wide open in Minnesota.
At this point, that role is expected to be filled by Jarius Wright, who hauled in 42 passes on 60 targets a year ago for 588 yards and a pair of scores but ran just 85 routes out of the slot. Earlier this off-season it was reported by KFAN radio that offensive coordinator Norv Turner said about the Vikings’ slot position, “We’re in good shape with Jarius Wright.” That quote came before Diggs landed in Minnesota, however.
Short-term Expectations
Despite being selected in the fifth round (146th overall), I see Diggs as a very good slot prospect who landed in one of the top situations for such a player. He should be given the opportunity to compete with Wright for snaps in the slot and he’s shown he has the route running, hands and game breaking ability to take reps away from the veteran. While it’s no guarantee that he sees the field on offense as a rookie, I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up as one of the top late round rookies in this year’s class. At the very least, he’ll contribute in his freshman season for the Vikings in the return game.
Long-term Expectations
The primary concern with Diggs’ long term upside may be availability. He missed 10 games in his three seasons with the Terrapins due to injury and another due to suspension. If he’s able to stay on the field however, he has the explosion and big play ability that offensive coordinators covet and the route running ability and hands to become a long time playmaker in the league.
Even if Diggs’s is unable to overcome Wright for the slot job or is forced to split time as a rookie, Wright’s contract expires after the season. With a rising star at quarterback, one of the best running backs in the league and an offensive coordinator who likes to employ three receiver sets, the potential exists for Diggs to develop into a dangerous offensive weapon in Minnesota.
NFL Comparison
Diggs reminds me a lot of former Viking Percy Harvin, just without the ability to line up in the backfield as a tailback. Another impressive returner, Harvin showed incredible change of direction skills and burst off the line of scrimmage and after the catch which is also Diggs’ calling card.
Rookie Draft Advice
Dynasty owners should keep in mind when considering Diggs in rookie drafts that he was once one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country. A five-star recruit out of high school, he caught 54 passes for 848 yards and six touchdowns while also returning two kicks for touchdowns in 11 games as a freshman. After that, injuries and a lack of talent under center for the Terrapins derailed what would have been an impressive college career and he decided to leave college with a year of eligibility left which most consider being a mistake. Those are hardly reasons to avoid him in rookie drafts however – especially considering where he’s going.
After slipping into the fifth round of the NFL draft, Diggs has fallen nearly out of the third round of rookie drafts. He’s currently being selected 36th overall according to data accumulated by our own Scott Fish and went as late as pick 40 overall. At any point in the third or fourth round, he should be considered a steal and will likely be on many of my dynasty rosters this year.
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