Quandre Diggs heard 199 names come off the board in the 2015 NFL Draft before finally hearing his in the sixth round as the 200th overall pick by the Detroit Lions.
That's always been a source of motivation for Diggs, a chip on his shoulder if you will, and something he's used as fuel to get to this day.
This day is significant for Diggs, who signed a three-year contract extension through the 2021 season Monday morning.
"I beat the odds, man," Diggs said after practice Monday. "Sixth-round pick. Pick 200. I beat the odds from what I was supposed to be."
What Diggs has become over the last three years is one of the more versatile pieces to any secondary in the league. Both Lions general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia have said Diggs' versatility is an important element to the defense.
"Quandre has developed into one of our core defensive players and we are excited to come to this agreement that will have him as a Detroit Lion for the next four seasons." Quinn said in a statement released Monday.
Since entering the league in 2015 out of Texas, Diggs has appeared in 44 games with 19 starts. Most of that has been at the nickel cornerback spot, but Diggs was very good late last season after moving to safety for the final five games when Tavon Wilson suffered a torn bicep.
Diggs had three interceptions and forced a fumble in those starts. He's coming off a career-high 55-tackle season last year, which included a sack, a forced fumble, three interceptions and nine passes defended.
He has played both safety and slot cornerback throughout training camp and the preseason, providing Patricia with the kind of versatility and flexibility he covets in his defenders.
"He's another guy who's obviously a critical part of our team here defensively," Patricia said of Diggs. "A guy that has worked extremely hard since he walked in the door. Someone since I got here who's really kind of embraced everything that we've been doing and has tried to take a big leadership role for us from that standpoint."
Diggs called getting this new extension "a blessing" and "a relief," but also said in the same breath he'll never lose the motivation that's gotten him to this point.
"I'm always going to have motivation," he said. "I'm a sixth-round draft pick, so at the end of the day, 32 teams passed me up. I'm always going to have a chip on my shoulder and it isn't going to be nothing different.
"You still have to put in work and show the Lions you deserve every penny of it. My whole mindset hasn't changed. I'm going to continue to go out and work. I think we had a good day today. Sign the deal and still have to get to work."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. (11) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back LeGarrette Blount (29) warms up during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive back Quandre Diggs (28) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Miles Killebrew (35) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Eli Harold (57) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Jamal Agnew (39) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Theo Riddick (25) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Kerryon Johnson (33) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Matt Cassel (8) hands the ball off during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard Kenny Wiggins (79) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Luke Willson (82) and tackle Rick Wagner (71) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (26) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Cre'Von LeBlanc (26) and Detroit Lions cornerback Darius Slay (23) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah (21) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle John Atkins (99) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Levine Toilolo (87) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Eric Lee (55) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions guard T.J. Lang (76) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah (94) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand (93) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Luke Willson (82) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive tackle John Atkins (99) during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive backs coach Brian Stewart during practice at the Detroit Lions training facility on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 in Allen Park, Mich. (Detroit Lions via AP)
