The Dallas Cowboys have decided to part ways with cornerback Trevon Diggs less than three years after awarding him a lucrative contract extension. Injuries and declining performance have led to this unexpected move, which opens up significant salary cap space for the team as they face postseason disappointment.
Diggs’ Contract and Performance History
In the summer of 2023, the Dallas Cowboys signed cornerback Trevon Diggs to a five-year contract extension worth $97 million, potentially rising to $104 million with incentives. This decision followed an impressive performance where Diggs led the league with 11 interceptions in 2021 and achieved a career-high 59 tackles the subsequent season. The Cowboys aimed to secure a key defensive player for the long term.
Injuries and Departure from the Cowboys
However, injuries hindered Diggs’ contributions on the field, limiting him to just 21 games over the past three seasons. During this span, he recorded only three interceptions, with none this year. As a result, the Cowboys have opted to cut ties with him, providing a financial boost to their salary cap.
Diggs’ contract included $42.3 million in guarantees, but with no guaranteed money remaining, the Cowboys could release him without incurring penalties. This decision will ultimately save the team approximately $12.5 million in salary cap space, while Diggs will forfeit about $55 million of his contract’s total value.
Although the Cowboys have been eliminated from the playoffs, Diggs, at just 27 years old, remains an attractive option for playoff-bound teams. If signed before the final week of the season, he would be owed $472,000, plus an additional $58,823 should he be activated for the last game. Even if a team doesn’t secure him this week, opportunities may arise for him in the upcoming year.
The decision to part ways with Diggs marks another disappointment for the Cowboys, who previously traded edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just before the season began. While Parsons has faced injury setbacks, the Packers are on their way to the playoffs, leaving the Cowboys to reflect on their missed opportunities.
John is a seasoned journalist at The Bothside News, specializing in balanced reporting across news, sports, business, and lifestyle. He believes in presenting multiple perspectives to help readers form informed opinions. His work embodies the publication’s philosophy that truth emerges from examining all sides of every story.
