PFF's 2023 rankings shows Cowboys have best cornerback duo in NFL

A popular debate amongst Dallas Cowboys fans this offseason has centered on whether Brandin Cooks or Stephon Gilmore will make the bigger impact. As long as they perform up to their potential, though, the winner ultimately won't matter as both players have the talent to take the team over the top.

At the end of the day, CeeDee Lamb will benefit from Cooks' arrival, and Trevon Diggs will reap the benefits of Gilmore joining the secondary.

Of course, the Cowboys are used to flaunting two high-level receivers. Amari Cooper and Lamb formed one of the most exciting duos in the league before the former was traded to Cleveland last offseason.

Conversely, it's been a while since Dallas boasted two premium cornerbacks. While Gilmore is getting up there in age and is now four years removed from winning Defensive player of the Year in 2019, last season proved he's still one of the best the game has to offer at the position.

Is it fair to say the Cowboys now have the best CB duo in the league? Rival fans would swiflty object that sentiment, but Pro Football Focus' cornerback rankings suggest otherwise as Gilmore and Diggs cracked the top 10.

Cowboys' Trevon Diggs, Stephon Gilmore crack top 10 of PFF's cornerback rankings

What's that? The Cowboys are the only team with two cornerbacks ranked inside the top 10? Eagles fans must be in shambles reading this. Normally, we'd make a fuss about Darius Slay ranking No. 3, but we'll let Philly have that one. Gilmore, Diggs and the Cowboys are the story here.

Since 2021, Gilmore is the league's highest-graded corner in man coverage, while Diggs is the league's third-highest graded corner in zone coverage, per PFF. The two stars are perfect complements for each other.

Last season, Gilmore was elite in coverage for the underachieving Colts. He allowed a 63.1% completion rate over 84 targets, just two touchdowns and an 82.6 passer rating to go with eight pass breakups, including two of the game-winning variety, and two interceptions.

Gilmore has aged like a fine wine and playing opposite Diggs should only help him maintain a Pro Bowl-level of play with the Cowboys.

Diggs didn't grade out nearly as high as Gilmore, but we're still talking about the best ball-hawking cornerback in the game. A former WR at Alabama, Diggs has the best ball skills of any CB and has gotten smarter in coverage over the years in regard to calculating when to jump a route.

We wouldn't expect neither Diggs nor Gilmore to travel with an opposing team's best receiver, however. It's more likely the duo sticks to its preferred side of the field, though we suppose it's possible Dan Quinn throws in a wrinkle here and there.

Either way, PFF's rankings just hammer home the fact that the Cowboys have the best cornerback duo of any team in the NFL.