Lead: The Green Bay Packers claimed cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday after Dallas released him, the team said. Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer described the move as “a culmination of multiple factors,” citing on-field performance and unspecified off-field issues. Green Bay will assume Diggs’s Week 18 base pay of $472,000 and an additional $58,823 if he is activated; his contract carries no guaranteed money beyond this season. The move reunites Diggs with teammate Micah Parsons in Green Bay, though Parsons underwent season-ending ACL surgery this week.
Key takeaways
- The Packers claimed Trevon Diggs off waivers from the Cowboys on Tuesday; the transaction was announced publicly via league roster reporting.
- Financials: Green Bay assumes a Week 18 base salary of $472,000 and an activation game check of $58,823; there is no guaranteed money remaining after the current season.
- Diggs appeared in eight games this season, recording 27 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pressures, with zero pass breakups and zero interceptions.
- Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer attributed the release to “a culmination of multiple factors,” referencing both performance and off-field considerations.
- Trevon Diggs is a former All-Pro (2021) who led the league with 11 interceptions that season and was a Pro Bowler in 2022; his turnover production has fallen significantly since 2021.
- The claim reunites Diggs with edge rusher Micah Parsons in Green Bay; Parsons sustained a season-ending ACL injury this week and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Background
Trevon Diggs entered the NFL as a high-profile cover corner after breakout production in 2021, when he paced the league with 11 interceptions and earned first-team All-Pro honors. The following season he recorded three interceptions and made his second straight Pro Bowl, but his turnover numbers have declined markedly in subsequent seasons. The Cowboys retained Diggs through 2023 but struggled to pair his early playmaking with consistent coverage metrics and availability.
Dallas opted to release Diggs on Tuesday; coach Brian Schottenheimer framed the decision as the result of multiple issues, naming both on-field results and off-field matters without detailing specifics. Waiver claims are processed by league priority rules, and Green Bay filed to add him immediately, absorbing short-term salary obligations tied to the final week. For the Packers, the move is a low-commitment, potentially high-upside addition given Diggs’s past production and the minimal guaranteed money.
Main event
The transaction occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when the Cowboys placed Diggs on waivers and the Packers submitted a claim that was awarded under NFL waiver priority. The move adds a veteran cornerback to Green Bay’s depth chart ahead of Week 18, with the team responsible for the stated Week 18 pay and any game activation bonus. Diggs has no guaranteed dollars beyond this season, which limits long-term financial exposure for the Packers.
This season Diggs featured in eight games and compiled 27 tackles, one tackle for loss and two pressures, but did not register a pass breakup or interception—metrics that track coverage impact and playmaking. Those numbers underscore the performance concerns cited by Dallas leadership and help explain why Diggs was exposed to waivers. From Green Bay’s perspective, the acquisition is a short-window opportunity to reclaim a former top playmaker at minimal cost.
The roster context matters: Diggs will join a Packers secondary that has mixed results versus the pass this year and now must contend with the loss of Micah Parsons to an ACL tear, weakening the team’s pass-rush pairing on early downs. How the Packers deploy Diggs—whether as a starter, rotational outside corner, slot defender or special-teams contributor—will be determined in meetings and practice reps before Week 18.
Analysis & implications
For Green Bay, the claim is a calculated, low-risk bet. With only the Week 18 salary largely at stake and no future guarantees, the team can evaluate Diggs in live game conditions without a multi-year commitment. If Diggs flashes the coverage instincts and ball skills that produced 11 interceptions in 2021, the Packers could either retain him on a short-term deal or boost his trade value before roster cut deadlines.
Conversely, the signing carries immediate performance risk. Diggs’s recent tape shows fewer turnover plays, and his eight-game sample this season lacked pass breakups and interceptions—objective indicators that his range, ball skills or scheme fit may have diminished. Off-field issues cited by Dallas, not fully detailed publicly, add another layer of uncertainty for a team weighing chemistry and locker-room impact.
League-wide, the claim highlights how quickly a player’s market value can shift: a former All-Pro can move to waivers if present production and availability decline. For Diggs personally, Green Bay offers a short-term platform to reestablish value; a strong showing could revive his standing, while another quiet stretch would likely leave him as a short-term depth piece without long-term security.
Comparison & data
| Season | Interceptions | Notable |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | First-team All-Pro |
| 2022 | 3 | Pro Bowl |
| 2024 (this season) | 0 | 8 games, 27 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 pressures |
The table highlights a sharp drop in interceptions after 2021. While 2022 still produced three picks, Diggs did not record interceptions this season across eight appearances. Those raw figures do not capture targets, coverage grades or opposing passer rating when targeted—advanced metrics teams will consult when determining deployment.
Reactions & quotes
“A culmination of multiple factors.”
Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys coach
Schottenheimer used that phrase when the Cowboys announced Diggs’s release, linking performance and off-field elements as reasons for the roster move. The short public statement leaves specifics unlisted, which complicates outside analysis of non-performance considerations.
“The Packers will owe Diggs $472,000 in base salary for Week 18, plus $58,823 if he is active this week.”
NBC Sports (transaction report)
That financial detail frames the claim as a limited exposure for Green Bay: the team covers a final-week paycheck and an activation bonus, but Diggs carries no guaranteed salary beyond the current season.
Unconfirmed
- Specific details of the “off-field issues” referenced by Dallas have not been publicly disclosed and remain unconfirmed.
- Any internal Packers plan for Diggs’s Week 18 role (starter vs. rotational vs. special teams) has not been finalized publicly.
- Longer-term contract plans or guaranteed money negotiations for Diggs after this season are not reported and remain speculative.
Bottom line
The Packers’ waiver claim of Trevon Diggs is a short-term, low-commitment gamble on a player with a proven peak (11 interceptions in 2021) but recent decline and unresolved off-field questions. Financially the move burdens Green Bay only for Week 18 pay and a small activation bonus, limiting downside while preserving the upside if Diggs regains form.
For Diggs, Week 18 (and any practice impressions beforehand) is a critical audition: a productive appearance could reset his market and lead to a new role or contract, while another quiet performance would likely leave him as a stopgap depth option. Observers should track his snap counts, targets allowed and any official team commentary for clearer signals about his long-term prospects.
Sources
- NBC Sports (sports media report)