Packers take a calculated swing by signing Trevon Diggs to address their most pressing need before the playoffs
Green Bay signed Diggs, and it makes a lot of sense despite obvious risks involved.
The Green Bay Packers are taking a risk trying to make the defense better. On Wednesday, the Packers claimed cornerback Trevon Diggs off waivers, absorbing his contract a day after the Dallas Cowboys cut the former All-Pro cornerback.
Contract considerations for Diggs singing with Packers
The Packers take on $472k of Diggs’ earnings, the proration of his base salary, plus $58,823 if he is active this week against the Minnesota Vikings. It might sound expensive for just one regular-season game, but the playoff run would happen without any additional cost — the league pays postseason additional salaries.
Under his contract, Diggs is slated to make $15.5 million in 2026, $20.5 million in 2027, and $21 million in 2028, but none of it is guaranteed beyond this season.
Diggs told NFL Network reporter Jane Slater that “he is healthy and motivated as he looks to join another team looking for another piece to add this postseason.”
Diggs’ performance and fit with the Packers
Diggs had two good seasons in 2021 and 2022. But months after signing his extension with the Cowboys, the cornerback tore his ACL and has not been the same. This year, he’s had an average 62.4 PFF coverage grade on 424 defensive snaps. Diggs has allowed a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted, which is certainly not ideal.
However, the Packers needed to find options. Nate Hobbs suffered a knee injury and will likely miss the rest of the season, while Kamal Hadden is officially out for the season with an ankle injury.
Earlier this week, the Packers promoted Jaylin Simpson and Shemar Bartholomew from the practice squad to give the cornerback room more depth, and Bo Melton returned to the defensive side during practice. The top cornerbacks on the roster are Keisean Nixon and Carrington Valentine, while safety Javon Bullard is the starting nickel.
It’s not without risk, but the Packers found a potential solution to give the defense more depth (and potentially decent-level performance) at cornerback.
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