At the height of his career, former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was the best ballhawk in football.
Three years after his latest Pro Bowl, though, Diggs has been placed on waivers, as reported by ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Diggs led the league with 11 interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) in his second year with the Cowboys. His dominant 2021 season had many wondering if the Alabama product was on a Hall of Fame trajectory.
Injuries, declined play, and issues in the locker room left Dallas in a comfortable position to move on.
The New York Jets, positioned third in the waiver order, are among the teams that could show interest in the two-time Pro Bowler.
Pros to Jets picking up Diggs
The Jets have gone an NFL record 16 games without recording an interception this season, while also allowing 32 passing touchdowns. With and without Sauce Gardner, New York has received an unacceptable level of production from their young secondary.
Diggs has dealt with injuries and off-field issues in Dallas, but his ability to make plays around the ball is something New York simply lacks. He’s also just 27 years old, so with proper coaching, he is still young enough to potentially return to his All-Pro ways.
More importantly, though, Diggs has always been a player who performs with an edge, which is something that the Jets have seemed to covet in their defenders under Aaron Glenn. If they deem Diggs a fit in their defensive scheme, the upside is that he could end up providing them a quality starting cornerback at a low cost for the 2026 season.
On his ballhawk upside alone, Diggs is a worthwhile pickup for the Jets.
The cons against Diggs
Claiming Diggs off waivers is likely not on the table for New York. As noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, any team claiming Diggs off waivers would be on the hook for his remaining $472,222 guaranteed game check in 2025.
The Jets would probably wait to pursue Diggs until after he clears waivers and becomes a free agent, meaning they have to compete against the rest of the NFL to bring him in. Diggs may prefer a more appealing situation than the one in New York.
As a player, the primary concern surrounding Diggs is his character. Questions about Diggs’ maturity followed the Pro Bowler throughout his tenure in Dallas. Team owner Jerry Jones was critical of Diggs’ leadership when speaking to the media this past summer.
What is to stop Diggs from causing another stir in New York?
The off-field risk may not even be worth the on-field reward. While the Jets need quality players in their secondary, Diggs is far removed from prior success. He has played in just 21 games over the last three seasons due to various injuries, and when on the field, Diggs hasn’t been the same player. He recorded only three interceptions over this span, compared to six touchdowns allowed.
In eight games this season, Diggs has yielded a perfect 158.3 passer rating on throws into his coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
It is a long shot that Diggs plays at an elite level again, and concerns exist about his durability and character. At this point, though, the Jets need all the help they can get. Rolling the dice on a player with a ceiling of Diggs’ caliber is worth the trouble for a team that has allowed 32 touchdowns to zero interceptions.
