The Dallas Cowboys have what could be the best cornerback duo in the NFL. With Trevon Diggs already in the fold, the team went out and acquired Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts.
Gilmore, the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year with the New England Patriots, had a solid bounce-back campaign in 2022 with the Colts. He appeared in 16 games after playing in only eight with the Carolina Panthers in 2021, showing that he still has plenty left in the tank.
His presence has been felt at Cowboys training camp, where he is not only helping improve the defense but the offense. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb lauded the mental aspect of Gilmore’s game, saying he is the smartest cornerback he has ever lined up against.
Now, it is Gilmore’s turn to heap some praise upon his teammates. While making an appearance on Inside "Training Camp Live" earlier this week, Gilmore spoke glowingly of his secondary mate in Diggs. He believes Diggs could turn into the best the NFL has to offer at the position.
“We’ve been able to jell as soon as we got into the meeting room,” Gilmore told NFL Network’s Rhett Lewis and David Carr. “I feel like he’s turned into a little brother for me. He’s a smart player, has all the athletic ability. (I’m) just trying to teach him some technique stuff that could take his game to the next level because I do believe he can be the best in the business. Just trying to do as much as I can to help him out and make plays on the other side.”
Diggs burst onto the scene during his second season with the Cowboys. He led the NFL with 11 interceptions that season, returning two for touchdowns. It led to him being named a Pro Bowler for the first time and earning a spot on the All-Pro First Team.
That ball skill talent is something that Gilmore wishes he had. Despite being the mentor, he is still learning things from his younger teammates.
“He’s special,” Gilmore said. “Like, he told me just now, ‘When the ball is in the air. it’s mine.’ You gotta have that mindset at the cornerback position. It’s just so pretty seeing cause he played receiver, so it’s so natural to him. I gotta steal that from him.”
With Gilmore now in the fold, Dallas will find it much easier to slow down the opponent’s passing game. He and Diggs are both very talented players, making life easier for the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Knowing both sides of the field are locked down is a luxury few coordinators have.
More must-reads: