Flashback to the summer of 2023, when the Dallas Cowboys secured cornerback Trevon Diggs with a lucrative five-year contract extension valued at $97 million, potentially reaching $104 million with incentives. At first glance, the contract seemed generous, but Diggs had proven himself as a vital asset for the team. Leading the league with 11 interceptions in 2021 and achieving a career-high 59 tackles the following year, Diggs was a cornerstone of the Cowboys’ defense.

However, Diggs’ career with the Cowboys became marred by injuries, impacting his performance significantly. Over the past three seasons, he managed to participate in only 21 games, securing a mere three interceptions, and none during the current season.

Now, just under two-and-a-half years since Diggs inked the deal, the Cowboys have decided to part ways with him, resulting in substantial financial savings for the team.

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Diggs’ contract included $42.3 million in guaranteed money. With no remaining guarantees, the Cowboys can release him without incurring penalties, leaving Diggs without approximately $55 million of his contract’s value. This move also frees up about $12.5 million in salary cap space for Dallas.

While the Cowboys have already been ousted from playoff contention, Diggs, still in his prime at 27, may attract interest from teams eyeing a playoff run. A team picking him up before the season’s final week would owe him $472,000 from his base salary, plus an additional $58,823 if he’s active for the last game. Regardless of whether he joins a team immediately, Diggs is likely to find a new opportunity in the upcoming season.

This development marks another setback for the Cowboys, who also traded edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers just before the season commenced. Despite Parsons missing recent games due to injury, the Packers are playoff-bound, while the Cowboys face an early offseason. The question remains whether Diggs will find his way back into postseason play.