Why Quandre Diggs Is Detroit Lions' Best Bet at Nickelback

When thinking about the Detroit Lions' nickelback battle, I kept coming back to a line from southern rapper Big K.R.I.T. on his track "See Me on Top." It's a simple statement that packs a ton of meaning.

"If I had a chance, well 'if' is all I need."

Far be it from me to tell someone else what to do with his or her body, but if Quandre Diggs is in the market for a new tattoo, that line would look good on him. It fits his current situation to a tee.

Sixth-round picks are rarely given a legitimate shot to land a contributing role this early in the process, although he shouldn't have been a Day 3 selection in the first place. And that slight is one of the reasons why he's the best bet to be Detroit's starting slot cornerback.

Pedigree

As alluded to above, Diggs wasn't worthy of such a late pick. His play and positive physical attributes were overshadowed by his 5'9" frame, which Jeff Risdon of Real GM found to be the Lions' gain (as Diggs was the 200th pick):

"

Diggs is great value. Nickel CB with toughness and tenacity. My 112th player

— Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) May 2, 2015"

Diggs played in 49 games at Texas, which might not have enjoyed its traditional level of excellence the past few years, but it also won't be confused for Alcorn State any time soon.

Plus, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin proclaimed that Diggs had a "great background" for football, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Rothstein explained what Austin meant:

"

The background comes from Texas and also comes from being the younger brother of former NFL defensive back Quentin Jammer. Despite the age difference -- Jammer is 35, Diggs is over a decade younger -- Jammer has often given his younger brother advice about being in the league and making an impact.

"

Quentin Jammer enjoyed a solid 12 years in the league—11 with the San Diego Chargers and one with the Denver Broncos. Diggs knows better than to waste this valuable resource, which proves his intelligence and humility. 

Ability

A healthy work ethic and a yearning to learn are necessary for any late-round selection to succeed, but neither trump talent. Luckily, Diggs is blessed with all three. A SideLion Reporter with an eye for ability and a love for film study tweeted this out immediately after Diggs was drafted:

"

Diggs is smooth and will rarely make mistakes. Not grabby like BB and Lawson.

— BeastMode (@BeastFBall) May 2, 2015"

With his main competition sidelined (discussed below), Diggs is stacking up the reps and taking full advantage of his opportunity. Quarterback Matthew Stafford came away impressed, telling Kyle Meinke of MLive.com the following:

"

He's got a natural feel. (He) made a play the other day in the red zone that wasn't even on the ball. I wasn't in the game, I was just watching from afar, and was like, 'Man, our QB wanted to throw it, and he just took it away at the last second.'

He's got a good feel in zone, and I think he's a feisty kind of competitor in man. He's going to be around the football trying to make plays on it

"

The above backs up everything we saw during his college years. Diggs demonstrated strong instincts and a willingness to attack the ball. Plus, he doesn't shy away from the physical aspect of the game, which should translate well to the slot cornerback position.

That talent will set him apart from veterans Josh Wilson (75th-best cornerback in 2014, per Pro Football Focus) and Chris Owens (87th). Neither have been particularly impressive the past two years, although Wilson will still pose a threat and is looking to rejuvenate his career in Austin's system. Yet the last two years have brought a noticeable slip in his game, which is damning for a 30-year-old cornerback.

Health

Lastly, Diggs has proven his durability. He didn't miss a single game during his four years with the Longhorns, which isn't something his competition can claim. Bill Bentley has only played in 18 games over the past three years. Nevin Lawson barely made it to Week 2 in 2014.

There's no need to explain the importance of availability. While Bentley and Lawson have flashed potential in the past, the former is coming off his third straight injury, and the latter suffered a gruesome dislocated foot that could take a while to heal properly.

Diggs doesn't carry those concerns. Instead, his health, ability and pedigree make him the odds-on favorite. If he takes advantage of his chance, we'll see him on top of the depth chart come next September.

All advanced stats, grades and positional rankings are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.