The Dallas Cowboys waived two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs on December 30, and the move instantly created a fast NFL “decision window,” including the possibility that he winds up with the San Francisco 49ers.
On NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio and Chris Simms discussed Diggs’ next landing spot and pointed to San Francisco as a fit worth watching, with waivers likely settling the situation quickly.
Key details to know right now
- Claiming Diggs means paying his Week 18 base salary (about $472,000), plus an additional amount if he’s active, per ESPN’s reporting.
- A claiming team would also inherit the remaining non-guaranteed years of his contract, including a $14.5 million 2026 salary and a cap hit north of $18 million, per ProFootballTalk.
- If he clears waivers, Diggs can become a free agent immediately (no waiting until March) and choose his next team.
Cowboys Waive Trevon Diggs, Ending a Rocky Stretch in Dallas
Diggs’ Cowboys tenure took a sharp turn after his 2023 extension, with injuries and friction over rehab becoming recurring themes. ESPN reported the relationship “grew apart” and that the decision to move on was tied to a “culmination of events,” including performance.
On the injury front, Diggs tore his left ACL in 2023 and dealt with additional knee issues in subsequent seasons. ESPN also detailed that he suffered a concussion in an at-home accident while attempting to install a television mount.
Then there was the contract “wedge.” The Cowboys enforced a $500,000 base-salary de-escalator tied to offseason participation, and Diggs acknowledged the surprise and frustration earlier this year.
Diggs’ 2025 season has been a stop-start one. He appeared in eight games and finished with 25 total tackles (18 solo), with no interceptions on the year as he dealt with lingering health issues and time away from the lineup. He also returned late and played in the Cowboys’ final two games, logging seven tackles in that brief stretch.
Why Simms and Florio Keep Bringing Up San Francisco
This is the part that will matter most to fans today (Wednesday, December 31, 2025): waivers don’t give you days to wait, and a playoff-caliber roster can justify a short-term gamble. Especially a team chasing the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC in the final week of the season.
Florio and Simms’ on-air logic was straightforward: San Francisco is the type of contender that could talk itself into a cornerback upgrade for a postseason run, especially if Diggs’ health checks out.
They also raised a scheme-based angle. The idea that Diggs has played in a system with “Seattle” roots in Dallas and could transition quickly to a similar defensive world in the NFC West. Even if that’s more TV shorthand than perfect X’s-and-O’s mapping, it’s the kind of “plug-and-play” argument contenders make when the calendar is tight.
They also mentioned the Chicago Bears as a team that could “take a flyer,” especially if a non-contender with waiver priority wants to block Diggs from landing exactly where he prefers.
What Happens Next: Waiver Chess, Then a Free-Agent Sprint
From here, it’s simple and brutal: either a team claims Diggs — paying the Week 18 money and taking on the contract structure — or he clears and gets to pick his next destination.
Either way, the “49ers angle” has real shelf life: if San Francisco is serious the path could be claim (harder financially) or wait him out (riskier if another team steps in first).
49ers Linked To 2-Time Pro Bowl CB as Playoff Boost for Secondary