CeeDee Lamb battles, quotes show Trevon Diggs is ready for a big Year 3

It’s no secret that Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs had a breakout year in 2021. The Pro Bowler amassed 11 interceptions — the most by any player in the NFL in 40 years.

While recreating that number this year will be quite the task, especially since quarterbacks now know what to expect from him, the All-Pro is still aiming high. During OTAs, he told reporters that he thinks about the fact that he got his hands on 14 balls during the season, but didn’t have 14 interceptions. He wanted to improve in that aspect.

Now, at training camp, Diggs is getting more clear about his statistical goals. He wants to beat his 11 interceptions in 2022. That won’t be easy to do, but he’s already working his way there by bringing in his first interception of camp on Friday. It’s nice to see that he isn’t shying away from the expectations many have for him in Year 3.

But the work for him began far before camp. Diggs told the press that he worked a lot with his older brother, Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs, in the offseason in order to push each other to both be better at their positions. Coming into camp, the younger brother said he feels better than he’s ever felt before.

Trevon Diggs showing competitiveness with CeeDee Lamb and eagerness to get more INTs in 2022 at Cowboys training camp

The Alabama product still has some time to go before he can start to compete against other wide receivers in the league. Until then, he’s getting plenty of hard work in against the Cowboys’ new WR1 CeeDee Lamb.

Diggs told USA Today’s Jori Epstein that he and Lamb get very competitive with each other, even during camp. The two will banter about who can beat who at the line of scrimmage.

The cornerback admits that competition like this can only make both of them better as they are both expected to have big stat seasons in 2022.

A lot of eyes will be on this Cowboys defense after one of the unit’s best seasons in franchise history. Many are wondering if the defensive squad can repeat or even improve upon what they did last year. Diggs has no doubt. Here’s what he told Cowboys writer Mark Lane when asked if it’s possible for the defense to improve in Dan Quinn’s second year:

"“100%. And even if we don’t and we do the same thing, that’s just the standard. We got to top that. Just keep going and that’s our standard now. So, we got to perform at that level.”"

The 23-year-old seems poised and ready to make Year 3 his best yet.