Anthony Brown surprisingly crashes PFF’s top 10 corners list (topped by Cowboys star)

The Dallas Cowboys had a humongous defensive turnaround in 2021 thanks to Dan Quinn and his players. The defensive coordinator took young defenders and veterans and made them a unit that other opponents feared. The group was highlighted by standouts like Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs, who both had top-tier seasons. Diggs was even in talks for Defensive Player of the Year after racking up a league-leading 11 interceptions.

However, the cornerback on the other side of the field, Anthony Brown, was quite effective, too. Although he remained under the shadow of Diggs’ breakout year, Brown did his job well in 2021. The two helped the defense lead the NFL in takeaways. In a league full of talented cornerbacks, it’s hard to stand out.

But, they both did.

Pro Football Focus recently released an article ranking the 10 best cornerbacks in press coverage. Not only was Diggs up top at the No. 1 spot, but his fellow Cowboys corner was also on the list. This is the top 10:

1. Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys
2. Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams
3. Jackrabbit Jenkins, Tennessee Titans
4. Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
5. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, New Orleans Saints
6. Ronald Darby, Denver Broncos
7. Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
8. Stephon Gilmore, Carolina Panthers
9. Anthony Brown, Dallas Cowboys
10. Anthony Averett, Baltimore Ravens

Both Cowboys CBs Trevon Diggs (No. 1) and Anthony Brown (No. 9) land spots on PFF’s top 10 coverage cornerbacks list

For a team that used to be known entirely for offense, to have both starting cornerbacks on a list of the top 10 amongst all 32 teams is quite impressive. Ranking press coverage is tricky, and the writer took several components into account. In addition to typical things like pass breakups, he also looked at target percentage, yards per route run allowed, and percentage of targets charted as “open.” The cumulative totals of all the stats gave each player a numerical ranking.

That’s part of the reason why despite PFF criticizing Diggs for blowing coverage yards multiple times last year and only giving him a 58.3 PFF grade, he still remains at the top.

Here’s what the site had to say about the league’s interception leader:

"Much ado has been made already about Diggs’ All-Pro 2021 season and how his gaudy interception total may not reflect his true coverage ability. The Athletic’s Diante Lee, formerly of PFF, detailed how Diggs’ massive frame — his wingspan is over 6-foot-6 — and ability to maintain top speed allow him to successfully employ a jump-press technique. This is, of course, a risky endeavor and shows up in his low PFF grade. But considering the Cowboys’ middling 2022 schedule and Diggs’ youth, he should still be successful even if he breaks up fewer passes."

With Diggs taking the spotlight and many focusing on his penalty-riddled performance on Thanksgiving, Brown didn’t get as much hype as he may have deserved from fans. But, him being on this list should really change that. The corner had to deal with a lot of targets coming his way, and for the most part, he excelled. He even had a higher (64.8) grade than Diggs. Here’s more from PFF:

"While Brown is certainly great at bullying opposing receivers, leading to his four defensive pass interference penalties against the Raiders in 2021, he plays in an advantageous system in Dallas. Trevon Diggs’ presence allows Brown to frequently match up with an opponent’s No. 2 receiver, and the quick pressure the Cowboys get from Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons minimizes how long he has to cover for. So, while Brown is strong in press coverage, his ranking here is likely inflated due to his environment."

Will this cornerback duo do even more damage in 2022? We certainly hope so.