The Dallas Cowboys have several players who they would be wise to offer contract extensions to this offseason.
Well, as of Tuesday, July 25th, they can cross Trevon Diggs off that list.
The new contract makes Diggs one of the highest-paid defensive backs in the NFL.
To be accurate, he is now ranked fifth in the league with a $19.4 million average annual salary.
The top 10, with Diggs included, are listed as follows.
- Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers, $21 million
- Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns, $20.1 million
- Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints, $19.5206 million
- Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens, $19.5 million
- Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys, $19.4 million
- Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins, $18.33 million
- Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins, $18 million
- Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills, $17.25 million
- J.C. Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers, $16.5 million
- Carlton Davis, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, $14.833 million
Diggs was entering the final year of his rookie deal after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft.
The Alabama product was nearly a 1st round pick by Dallas, but they instead pulled the trigger on stand-out wide receiver CeeDee Lamb from Oklahoma.
Much to the delight of Will McClay & Co., Diggs managed to drop right into their laps in the 2nd round with the 51st overall pick.
Diggs recorded three interceptions in 12 games during his rookie season.
A strong finish to his rookie year coupled with a strong training camp the following offseason thrust Diggs into a starting role for the 2021 season.
His sophomore campaign earned him All-Pro honors under the first-year tutelage of Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn.
Diggs led the entire NFL in interceptions (11) in that 2021 season, the highest single-season total since 1981.
Ironically, the 11 interceptions that year were recorded by none other than Dallas Cowboys’ defensive back Everson Walls.
Last season in 2022, Diggs’ interception total came back down to earth, but that was to be expected.
Quarterbacks avoided Diggs and instead attempted to pick on whoever was on the other side of the field.
Dan Quinn tried a hodge-podge of players on the left boundary.
Players like Kelvin Joseph, Nahshon Wright, and veteran Xavier Rhodes all failed to live up to expectations.
This prompted the Cowboys to use a 5th-round pick to trade for veteran Stephon Gilmore to kick off this offseason.
With another stud lined up across the field, Diggs should get back to his usual ball-hawking ways and increase his record pace of interceptions to start his career.
How Does This Help Dallas?
For starters, it takes some pressure off after locking up one of their young studs to a long-term deal.
Perhaps it may also help with negotiations for other young players like CeeDee Lamb, Terence Steele, and even Dak Prescott.
If these players see that Diggs settled for less than a record-breaking contract, it may influence them to do the same.
That would help keep a championship-caliber core together for seasons to come.
What Is Expected of Diggs?
As Trevon will learn soon enough, with more money comes more responsibility.
Playing a premier position like cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys attracts attention without the millions of dollars attached to it.
Now? If you thought “yards allowed” was an outrageous stat applied to Diggs solely because he wears a star on his helmet, get ready for more.
Cowboys antagonists will be licking their chops to point out every completion that he allows.
Diggs just needs to count his $21.5 million signing bonus, continue to work on his craft, and let his play speak for itself.