The Dallas Cowboys have made a stunning move with just one game left in the season, waiving cornerback Trevon Diggs. His release comes less than three years after he signed a lucrative five-year, $97 million extension. This ends a once-promising tenure with Dallas that began with superstar flashes but unraveled amid frequent injuries, performance issues, and reported off-field friction with the team.

Early Career

Diggs, a second-round pick out of Alabama in 2020, burst onto the scene as one of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers. In 2021, he led the league with 11 interceptions (including two pick-sixes) earning First-Team All-Pro honors and establishing himself as a premier corner in the league. He followed that season with another Pro Bowl season in 2022, intercepting six more passes and establishing himself as the Cowboys’ defensive leader. The Cowboys rewarded that production with the massive extension ahead of the 2023 campaign, betting on Diggs as a long-term elite shutdown corner. Soon after signing the deal Diggs tore his ACL in training camp, limiting him to just two games that season. Knee issues persisted into 2024, and 2025 brought more setbacks: a concussion suffered in an questionable at-home accident (reportedly involving a falling TV mount), additional knee soreness, and multiple stints on injured reserve.

Struggles in 2025

In his final season with Dallas, Diggs appeared in only eight games, recording 25 tackles but zero interceptions or passes defensed, a clear contrast to his early-career dominance. The Cowboys’ defense struggled overall, allowing a league-high points per game, and Diggs never seemed to fully buy-in to the zone-heavy scheme under Matt Eberflus.

Beyond injuries and on-field performance, the team pointed to a “culmination of multiple factors,” including off-field issues such as rehab adherence, meeting attendance, and a notable incident after the Christmas Day game against the Washington Commanders. Some reports say Diggs stayed in the D.C. area to spend time with family and attend a concert by a close friend, rather than flying back to Dallas with the team as requested. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer later clarified that the release wasn’t based solely on that event but was part of broader concerns.

Cowboys Create Cap Space

The move carries significant salary-cap implications. With no guaranteed money remaining on Diggs’ deal beyond 2025, the Cowboys clear roughly $12–$12.5 million in cap space for 2026 by releasing him now instead of waiting until the offseason. Diggs went through waivers; if unclaimed, he becomes a free agent and has already hired prominent agent David Mulugheta to explore options. Diggs is surely eyeing a postseason opportunity with a contender.

As Dallas closes out 2025 and looks ahead, the secondary will lean on players like DaRon Bland and younger options like Caelen Carson and Shavon Revel Jr. The Cowboys may also look to the draft this year, having two picks in the first round alone. Diggs, just 27, should undoubtedly get another opportunity to prove himself in the NFL. Diggs may be on a playoff team this season or the highest bidder in the offseason, that remains to be seen.

UPDATE

Trevon Diggs has signed with the Green Bay Packers.

Cowboy Regg is Co-host of the “Sons of the Star” Podcast. Follow Cowboy Regg on X at Irish_Cowboy88