Dallas Cowboys’ star cornerback Trevon Diggs has had a turbulent few years due to injuries. The two-time Pro Bowler has had season-ending injuries in back-to-back years, both on the same knee. He played just two games in 2023 before a torn ACL ended his season, and played in 11 games in 2024 before he was sidelined through surgery for the rest of the year.
Diggs has now missed the first two phases of the Cowboys’ offseason program and was absent from organized team activities. The All-Pro corner chose to rehab in Miami instead of with the Cowboys, which could cost him $500,000 in contract bonuses.
Trevon Diggs Is in Danger Of Losing Out on $500,000 Due to his Absence From the Offseason Program
Diggs ͏was awarded a five-year, $9͏7 million͏ contract extension in the summer of ͏202͏3 after back-͏to-back ͏Pro Bowl͏ seasons in 2021 and͏ 202͏2. He is set to make $9 million in base salary from the deal this season, but it could drop to $8.5 million if the Cowboys decide to enforce the $500,000 de-escalator tied to offseason programs.
ESPN’s Todd Archer reported that, according to the cornerback’s contract, he must participate in 84.375% of the offseason program to avoid the $500,000 de-escalator. Diggs has already missed a significant amount of time and could also face fines if he misses the Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp that runs from June 10 to 12.
Trevon Diggs could lose $500,000 of his $9 million he’s set to earn in his contract in 2025 due to him missing part of the team’s OTAs pic.twitter.com/8TnWCPOaNS
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 4, 2025
While Diggs is recovering from an injury, the contract states that a player must rehabilitate under the supervision of the Club’s Head Trainer, which also counts towards the player’s 84.375% completion requirement.
Diggs isn’t the first Cowboys player who has had base-salary de-escalator clauses written into his contract. Dallas has handed similar contracts to Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, among others, but per Archer, Diggs is believed to be the first Cowboys player who could see his base salary lowered.
The 26-year-old is currently rehabbing with Dr. Sharif Tabbah at Alkeme Sports Rx in Florida, and while the Cowboys executive vice president, Stephen Jones, said he was “being diligent,” he also suggested that the team’s preference is for him to rehab with the organization.
“Our understanding is he’s getting the work done and he’ll be back in, and we’ll get a good look at him next week [at the minicamp],” Jones said.
Dallas has struggled with the availability of its defensive units, and Diggs would be a key for the Cowboys’ return to the postseason. He is a ball-hawking corner who thrives in man coverage and is usually put on an opposing team’s best receiver. The 6’2″, 195-pounder had 11 passes defended in 2024 with two picks.