Dallas Cowboys finalize megadeal with cornerback Trevon Diggs

The Dallas Cowboys have finalized a contract extension with cornerback Trevon Diggs that will make him one of the highest-paid corners in the league, the team confirmed on Tuesday. As the Cowboys open training camp in Oxnard, Diggs has signed a megadeal for five years and $97 million.

The deal reportedly includes $21.5 million as a signing bonus and could be worth up to $104 million with incentives.

The top-paid cornerbacks in the league are currently making between $21 million to $18 million per year. Former first-rounder Denzel Ward signed a five-year deal for $100.5 million last offseason. Jaire Alexander topped that figure weeks later with a four-year deal for $84 million.

At 24 years old, Diggs has already established himself as one of the best ball hawks in the league. He’s led all NFL defenders with 17 interceptions over the last three seasons. In 2022, he had a career-high 50 solo tackles and three interceptions. Last season, he took two of his 11 interceptions home for touchdowns.

A second-round pick for the Cowboys out of Alabama, Diggs was playing on a four-year rookie deal for $6.32 million. Now, he cashes in a major payday going into his fourth season in the league with Dallas.

Dallas signed veteran Stephon Gilmore in the offseason to pair opposite Diggs. The former Colt has 29 career interceptions over his first 11 seasons.

Cowboys hope to close multiple deals for young stars

Prior to news breaking on Diggs’ new deal, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones discussed his hopes that they would get something done with “one or two” young players before the season.

“I feel good about where we are in the intermediate and in the long-term,” Jones said regarding cap space. “We’re constantly in communication, we’ve got great rapport with agents, always in communication with them. Continue to grind and look for windows of opportunity to get these deals done. It would be a big plus if we could get one or two of these guys signed.”

With Diggs taken care of, the Cowboys can now focus on other young players getting close to the end of their deals. Offensive lineman Terence Steele is one of them, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is another. Jones’ front office executed several major deals this offseason with seemingly little drama.

Running back Tony Pollard agreed to a one-year franchise tag for $10.1 million. Also signing new multi-year deals were Leighton Vander Esch, Cooper Rush and Donovan Wilson.