As the NFL heads into Week 18, shocking news has surfaced as the Dallas Cowboys have reportedly released star cornerback Trevon Diggs on Tuesday, just days before their Sunday game against the New York Giants.
More on Cowboys’ decision to release Trevon Diggs
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys have decided to part ways with Diggs, who was once viewed as a key piece of the franchise’s future.
“The Cowboys have released cornerback Trevon Diggs. He goes through the waiver process and if unclaimed, he will be a free agent,” Archer wrote on X.
Shortly after, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported that Diggs personally confirmed the news to her.
“Trevon Diggs just called me to tell me the #Cowboys have released him. While he says he will miss his time in Dallas, he assures me he is healthy and motivated as he looks to join another team looking for another piece to add this postseason.”
The Cowboys have released cornerback Trevon Diggs. He goes through the waiver process and if unclaimed, he will be a free agent.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) December 30, 2025
The move has caught many fans by surprise, as the Cowboys are walking away from Diggs just two years after signing him to a five-year, $97 million contract extension.
In a league where an elite cornerback like Diggs plays a crucial role, especially when facing aggressive offenses like the Rams, Bears, Seahawks, and potentially the 49ers in the postseason, many are raising questions about this decision.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero provided more details on why the Cowboys released Diggs. “My understanding is Diggs’ release was not a result of a specific incident,” he wrote on X. “It was the culmination of multiple factors spread over time, including both performance and other elements. The team felt it was best for both Trevon and the Cowboys to move on at this point.”
This move will enable the Cowboys to take a closer look at their roster as they prepare for the draft and the upcoming season. It’s also financially beneficial for Dallas, as Slater highlighted in a recent post.
According to PFSN’s CB Impact metric, Diggs is ranked #111 among cornerbacks in the league this season. Hopefully, on a new team he will be able to discover his form.
Diggs will count as $8.5 million in dead cap money in 2026, but the Cowboys will owe him zero dollars in cash that year. If they had done it after June 1, they would have saved only $4.25 million in cap space.
As for Diggs, it doesn’t seem like a team will claim him right now because doing so would require paying the remaining $472,222 left on his contract for this season. As a result, he is expected to clear waivers, meaning no team claims him. He will then become a free agent, and teams could sign him without taking on that guaranteed payment.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
