The Dallas Cowboys are finally getting the job done on defense. The sample size is limited, but acquiring DT Quinnen Williams and LB Logan Wilson and getting some players back from injury has worked wonders for Matt Eberflus' defense.
While that's obviously great news for the team, it's not great news for Trevon Diggs. Diggs has been out on injured reserve since Week 7, with few updates on his progress, and the defensive turnaround is happening without him.
Diggs' Slow Return Has Cowboys Future in Jeopardy
Diggs was first eligible to return from IR last week, but the team chose not to open his 21-day practice window. Now, with a short week ahead of them, Brian Schottenheimer revealed he's not going to do so ahead of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs:
“He’s doing better,” Schottenheimer told the media on Monday. “One of the issues this week is that it’s a short week. Again, we’ll see what everybody does, but short weeks are a little harder. He’s doing everything best, and has a really good look on his face.”
Truth be told, it wouldn't be crazy to think that Diggs has already played his final down for the Cowboys. He was openly critical of Matt Eberflus' system and lack of man coverage, and it wasn't like he was playing well before his injury.
Diggs has logged a Pro Football Focus grade of just 55.8, which ranks 63rd among 109 eligible cornerbacks. That grade doesn't always tell the full story, but he's also given up a career-high 154.9 passer rating when targeted in coverage. He hasn't made up for those struggles with any big plays either, recording no interceptions or pass breakups.
Diggs' Contract Hard to Stomach
Once a star, the Cowboys gave Diggs a five-year deal worth $97 million. It was a risky gamble at the time, given his volatility, and that decision has aged poorly. Now, the Cowboys might be looking at ways to get off the hook.
Trading or releasing Diggs would immediately free up $12.6 million in cap space this offseason, avoiding his $18.4 million cap hit and taking on $5.9 million in dead money. A post-June 1 release or trade would spread that dead money over two seasons, freeing up $15 million in 2026.
He's set to carry the 13th highest cap hit among cornerbacks in 2026, and there's nothing we've seen over the last two seasons that suggests he deserves it. One of the few times Jerry Jones was actually proactive with extending an apparent budding star has burned him.
Shavon Revel hasn't exactly been a star in his first two NFL games, but the third-round pick will continue to get chances to prove himself while Diggs is on the shelf, and a late-season breakout could be the final straw in Diggs' exit.
The Cowboys have already shown that they're not afraid to shake things up and move on from their starters by releasing Kaiir Elam. And with Diggs not giving them anything and also being a distraction with his comments and antics, there's simply no way to justify keeping him on the team beyond this season.