Roster turnover is one of the NFL's many harsh realities, but it still hurts to see homegrown stars flame out after taking the league by storm early in their respective careers.
Unfortunately, the Dallas Cowboys have no shortage of players who fit that description. Ezekiel Elliott's prime ended far sooner than anyone expected, while Michael Gallup fell off a cliff after his third season due to injuries.
Trevon Diggs, though, may be the best example of all. What makes his fall from grace so demoralizing to watch is that it didn't happen overnight. It was a slow burn, and his current reality makes it all the more difficult to digest.
Following a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers after his release from the Cowboys, Diggs is still searching for a new team. It seems the rest of the league has caught on to how limited he is after multiple knee surgeries, and finding another opportunity became even more difficult after the Washington Commanders signed veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Ex-Cowboys star Trevon Diggs won't be signing with the Commanders after all
Given Washington's need at cornerback and Diggs' relationship with head coach Dan Quinn, the Commanders were linked to him the moment Dallas cut ties.
The thinking was that Diggs, who seemingly lost the pride he once had wearing a Cowboys uniform after the team traded his close friend, Micah Parsons, could rediscover his passion and his form by reuniting with Quinn, under whom he blossomed into an All-Pro.
Unfortunately for Diggs, the Quinn lifeline is no longer an option, as the Commanders likely have a quartet of CBs they feel comfortable with in Mike Sainristil, Trey Amos, Amik Robertson, and now Douglas. There was room for Diggs before Washington signed Douglas. That ship has sailed.
It's a disheartening reality for the former Cowboy. Cornerbacks often age almost as quickly as running backs, but Diggs is only 27 and entering his age-28 season. Under normal circumstances, he should still be in the prime of his career, challenging for Pro Bowls and another interception crown.
It's anyone's guess where Trevon Diggs will play in 2026
Much like the aforementioned Michael Gallup, Diggs hasn't been able to recover his best football post-injury. He was never the fastest cornerback, but he no longer has the explosion that allowed him to deceive a quarterback's eyes and break on the football.
Jerry and Stephen Jones certainly aren't blameless for Diggs' falling out with the franchise. But that doesn't mean they were wrong to move on. His decline was simply too steep to ignore.
Between a torn ACL suffered in 2023 and undergoing season-ending knee surgery in 2024 to repair cartilage issues, Diggs played in just 21 of a possible 50 regular-season games over his final three years in Dallas.
And the last we saw of Diggs last season was not pretty. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed the highest passer rating (158.3) and yards per catch (17.9) when targeted of any cornerback.
It's hardly a surprise that Diggs remains in the free-agent wilderness. Chances are he'll land with a team before or during training camp. But the Commanders looked like his clearest path to a fresh start, and that door now appears to be closed.
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