It did not end with a dramatic farewell. It ended quietly, after trust had already thinned.
The Dallas Cowboys released former All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs following months of internal friction that reportedly intensified after a Christmas Day incident.
After Dallas defeated Washington, Diggs stayed in his hometown despite being denied permission. That decision became the final fracture in an already strained relationship.
For a player who once symbolized the future of the franchise, the shift feels dramatic.
Trevon Diggs: From All-Pro breakout to sudden decline
In 2021, Diggs was one of the most electric defensive players in football. He led the NFL with 11 interceptions, tying Everson Walls for the most in a single season in Cowboys history, according to official team records and Pro Football Reference. He was named First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press and added 21 passes defended in just 16 games.
Dallas responded by investing heavily, signing him in 2023 to a five-year, $97 million extension. The momentum did not last.
A torn ACL in 2023, reported by ESPN and NFL Network at the time, disrupted his trajectory. Across the next four seasons, Diggs recorded just six interceptions and played in 49 of 68 possible games.
“There are some relationships that you think you can handle more than you thought. There are some relationships that are up and down… I’m sure Trevon thought that this was going to work out, but you’ve got to do your part…
By 2025, the numbers told a harsher story. In eight games before his release, opposing quarterbacks posted a 158.3 passer rating when targeting him. He did not record an interception or a pass breakup during that stretch.
The performance decline raised eyebrows. The cultural concerns raised more.
Everson Walls points to team culture
Everson Walls, the Cowboys legend whose interception record Diggs once matched, addressed the situation in comments to The Dallas Morning News.
There are rumors that he wasn’t doing that… I’m not talking about on the field, necessarily. I’m talking about buying into the culture of the team…
Walls made it clear his comments went beyond statistics.
In Dallas, culture is not a side issue. It is foundational. Owner Jerry Jones has long emphasized accountability and leadership inside the locker room. When alignment wavers, the consequences tend to follow.
A brief stop in Green Bay
After his release, Trevon Diggs was claimed by the Green Bay Packers ahead of Week 18.
Financially, the move carried almost no risk. According to Spotrac contract data, all guaranteed money from his extension had already been paid. The Packers inherited just a $472,000 base salary for the final week plus a modest active-game bonus.
Diggs played 33 defensive snaps against Minnesota and recorded two tackles. He appeared for one defensive snap in the Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears. The opportunity was there. The impact was minimal.
A Dallas defense facing bigger questions
The broader issue extends beyond one player. According to Pro Football and Sports Network, the Cowboys ranked 32nd in Defensive Impact score this season. That is a steep drop from the opportunistic unit of 2021 that led the league in takeaways and thrived on game-changing plays.
The identity of Dallas’ defense has clearly shifted. Diggs remains just 27 years old and still possesses the instincts that once made him elite. Whether a new system can unlock that version again remains uncertain.
Dallas, meanwhile, turns toward rebuilding its secondary and restoring a defensive standard that has slipped significantly since its All-Pro peak.
This report references official Dallas Cowboys statistics, Pro Football Reference data, Associated Press All-Pro records, reporting from The Dallas Morning News, ESPN injury coverage, Spotrac contract data, and defensive rankings from Pro Football and Sports Network.
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