Stefon Diggs to NFL a mistake?

Stefon Diggs has declared for the 2015 NFL Draft. But is this a mistake for the junior wide receiver?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Stefon Diggs. He was a phenomenal player at Maryland and I believe he will find success at the next level.

Heck, I even took a selfie with him at the Maryland football fan appreciation day this past season.

But, was it a mistake for him to forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2015 NFL Draft?

On a player development level, I think it was a mistake.

3 Reasons Why It’s a Mistake 

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1. Nothing Like Experience – In his three seasons at Maryland, Diggs has only played in 28 out of 38 total games due to multiple injuries throughout his collegiate career. Two of the years were played in the ACC while this past season was in the Big Ten. Playing in the Big Ten another season against bigger and tougher opponents would have given him some more experience to prepare him for the NFL big boys.

2. Fundamentals – Diggs has great talent, but there’s a saying that I believe holds true for all athletes. “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” Staying another year will give him more time to continue to hone his skills and will make him an even more dangerous threat at the next level.

CBS Sports scouted Diggs and had this to say about him prior to this past season on their NFL Draft Scout website.

"“Diggs is still developing as a route-runner with a bad habit of rounding off routes, and while he can explode out of his breaks, he isn’t overly fluid with some straight-line tendencies, reminding me of former Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn.He appears disinterested as a blocker too often on tape and an opposing coach pointed out to me the poor body language that Diggs tends to show on the field.”"

After watching Diggs this season, I saw some of the same bad route-running habits described above. When you get the ball in his hands, there is no doubt he has a chance to make a big play, but at the next level, he must be able to get himself open with better route-running as he will be going up against faster and quicker defenses.

We saw the poor body language this season twice in the Penn State game (first time, second time) which eventually led to Diggs being suspended for the Michigan State game.

Skill work on the field as well as attitude on the field are all fundamentals. The great make sure they do the little things right.

3. Needs to Prove Durability – There was always a lot of hype surrounding Stefon Diggs each of his three seasons but at the end of the season we were always left saying, “Maybe next year”.  He showed signs of greatness and many thought he would have a few breakout seasons before his time was up in College Park.

NFL media analyst, Charles Davis said this on why Diggs should forgo the 2015 NFL Draft.

"“Diggs has been well-hyped since his high school days, but he’s not yet had the breakout year we’ve been waiting to see from him. He’s battled injuries, and another year with the Terrapins would give him a chance to have that big year that has eluded him. Diggs could prove his durability and give his stock a big boost.”"

Diggs’ thin frame and lean muscle tone offer limited growth potential to get much bigger or stronger than he is now, and because injuries have plagued his first three seasons, scouts would like to see him go through a season fully healthy while playing at a high level.

Why I Understand and Support His Decision 

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Stefon Diggs has shown what he can do on the football field while at the University of Maryland. He can flat out play. He’s dangerous when the ball is in his hands and can turn a botched play into a decent gain or even a touchdown.

While I still believe the three reasons given above are more than enough of a cause for him to stay another year, I have to also believe that whatever NFL team drafts him, they already know those things and are ready to help him grow as a person and a player.

Diggs will also be able to finish his education at the University of Maryland thanks to The Maryland Way Guarantee.

Stefon Diggs’ decision might be a mistake to some, but for him, this is his chance to go professional in something he loves to do. Everybody wants to be in a profession that they love and this is his chance. Another season at College Park may have helped Diggs or it could have ended his career. We will never know.

But what we do know is, one of Maryland’s own is headed for the NFL and we will get to see this gifted athlete playing on Sundays next year. He also leaves for the NFL after having started a movement that hopefully only continues to grow.

#DMVtoUMDtoNFL

Here is Diggs’ full statement to the Baltimore Sun media group.

"“After talking with my family during the past few days, I have decided to enter the NFL draft. We really thought about everything and weighed the pros and cons of staying at Maryland versus entering the draft, and we decided that this is the best decision for me.This was an extremely difficult decision. I signed with Maryland three years ago hoping to both put myself in the best position to be successful and also to help take my hometown school to a higher level. Coach [Randy] Edsall and my other coaches have been great to learn from, and coach Edsall has been great and helpful throughout this process of deciding whether to turn pro.There are great days ahead for the University of Maryland football program, and I hope I have helped to put the program in a better place than it was when I first got there.”"