5 bold predictions for the Dallas Cowboys’ 2022 season
3. Anthony Brown Becomes the Cowboys’ Top Ballhawk
Dallas’ group of defensive backs has been in question for some time. Byron Jones settled the group for a while, but his departure for Miami led to more questions. How can the Cowboys compete for a Super Bowl if their defensive backs can’t stop a pass?
The answer would come in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft in cornerback Trevon Diggs. His playmaking ability was on display as a rookie, but his ability to turn knockdowns into interceptions as a sophomore made him a can’t-miss player.
While Diggs got his share of credit, another corner continues to be underrated. Anthony Brown has quietly been an excellent cornerback for America’s Team.
Since being a sixth-round pick of the 2016 draft, Brown was relied upon to cover the opposition’s secondary wideout. Considering his draft position, he has dramatically outperformed the expectations everyone had of him.
He has at least eight ball touches each season that he played in more than ten games. That’s all while giving up a low 59.1 completion percentage since 2018.
As Diggs kept picking off passes, quarterbacks began looking the other way, which meant Brown saw a lot more action. Now with an entire season of making plays, Brown will see more action as teams look to avoid turning the ball over.
The increased targets give the Purdue product more opportunities to do what he does best, get his hands on the football. While he has gotten his hands on the ball a lot over the years, it has mostly been knockdowns. The next step is coming down with the ball.
Despite his inability to capitalize on intercepting passes, he will still lead the team in ball touches. The likelihood of Diggs repeating his 2021 season is very slim, opening the path for Brown to take the lead.
So far leading up to the regular season, No. 3 has played well. He kicked off training camp with a pick-six against Dak and is looking to improve his entire game. This year will be a big one for an often forgotten cornerback in Brown.
The 28-year-old will lead the team in INTs and PDs (not shading Diggs). It’s a combination of increased volume heading his way and continuing to do what he’s always done.