Diggs, 27, was a two-time Pro Bowler and 2021 All-Pro in a campaign in which he had an NFL-high 11 interceptions, with two returned for touchdowns.
For his Pro Bowl ability, Diggs received a five-year, $97 million extension through the summer of 2023, but has been hampered by injuries since then, playing in just 21 games over the past three years. He has only played eight games this year for the Cowboys, with 25 tackles, no interceptions, no passes defensed. He sports a 56.1 overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus (80th out of 113 CBs). As a result, he’s a great acquisition for the Packers, but his play of late — when he’s available — has been well below his 2021-22 prime.
His time in Dallas ended in a miserable season as he was benched for a concussion he revealed he suffered at home after a pole to mount his television fell and hit him in the head.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Diggs’ release came not for one specific reason, but for multiple factors that accumulated over time.
Diggs had no guaranteed money due in 2026, so the Cowboys waiving him wasn’t a complete surprise other than they didn’t wait until the offseason.
The Cowboys signed Diggs to a five-year, $97 million extension in July 2023, as the cornerback came off back-to-back Pro Bowl nods and a 2021 first-team All-Pro selection. Since payday, injuries have plagued Diggs. He has played in just 21 games over the last three seasons, including just two in 2023 before suffering an ACL injury.
With a $14.5 million base salary in 2026 but no guaranteed money on the contract, Diggs was likely to be cut in the offseason. Dallas decided not to wait that long to part with the 2020 second-round pick.
More surprisingly, the Packers did not risk Diggs clearing waivers as they will now pay him the $472,000 he has remaining in base salary this year.
Over the past four games, the Packers’ defense – a hallmark of Green Bay’s success with Parsons this year – has given up an average of 29.5 points per game and lost the last three. Without Parsons in the last two games, Green Bay has given up 60 points in its last five quarters plus overtime against the Chicago Bears.
Will Diggs help stem Green Bay’s decline on defense? Maybe we’ll see Sunday or in the playoff opener.