Trevon Diggs relieved for fresh start, confident he'll make impact with Packers: 'I still feel like I'm the best'

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As the saying goes, "new year, new me." It's a timely one for new Green Bay Packers cornerback Trevon Diggs, who was claimed off waivers Wednesday after being released by the Dallas Cowboys Tuesday.

"I'm not chasing accolades. I'm not chasing anything," Diggs told reporters Thursday, New Year's Day, before adding, "I'm chasing being a better me, being better every day, helping this team win."

The Cowboys moved on from Diggs just two years after signing the two-time Pro Bowl corner to a five-year, $97 million extension.

Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Diggs' release resulted from a "culmination of multiple factors," one of which was the Maryland native straying from protocol and not flying back to Dallas with the team after its Christmas Day road win over the Washington Commanders. Diggs had asked Schottenheimer if he could stay in the D.C. area to see family, but Schottenheimer turned down Diggs, just as he said he rejected requests from other players who had asked to fly separately that week.

"It was one of many factors," Schottenheimer said Wednesday, per ESPN. "It was not the only factor. I'm not the Grinch that stole Christmas. I love Christmas. I love my family. But at the end of the day, we have a protocol that we go through, and the process was not followed."

Another factor Schottenheimer mentioned was Diggs' performance. After piling up 17 interceptions across his first three seasons in the NFL, including a league-leading 11 as a first-team All-Pro in 2021, the 2020 second-round pick from Alabama has tallied just three picks over the past three seasons.

This time around, the 27-year-old Diggs has played in eight games and, according to Pro Football Focus, is currently allowing a perfect 158.3 passer rating when targeted. Vocal about his frustration with the Cowboys' defensive scheme this season, he's given up 16 catches on 20 targets for 286 yards and three touchdowns without a single pass break-up or interception, per PFF.

Despite those meager metrics, Diggs still has the confidence of a CB1.

"I still feel like I'm the best," he said Thursday.

Injuries disrupted the brilliant start to his Cowboys career. During practice early in the 2023 campaign, Diggs tore the ACL in his left knee. That injury cost him most of that season.

He made his way back for the 2024 season, although he later missed time with a groin injury and then was shut down for the year to have another surgery on his left knee.

Diggs was sidelined while rehabbing this past offseason, including during training camp leading up to a Week 1 return that Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons, one of Diggs' close friends, criticized the Cowboys for mismanaging.

Diggs suffered a concussion in October because of an accident at home. A TV that he was trying to mount fell on his head, as reported by NFL Network's Jane Slater last month. Also that month, he was placed on injured reserve due to a right knee injury that had lingered this fall.

He didn't return until Week 16. By that point, the Cowboys were already eliminated from postseason contention. Diggs said Thursday that he's healthy, joked that he'll be using Taskrabbit for his handyman work from now on and emphasized that he's grateful to be in position to help a contender like the playoff-bound Packers.

"It's been a great feeling," Diggs said. "They believe in me. I believe in myself, and I'm ready. It's going to be fun."

A foiled trip to Dave & Buster's and a friend to lean on

Diggs said he got the call that he was headed to the Packers Wednesday just as he was about to take his kids to Dave & Buster's.

The trip was tabled, but the moment was celebrated.

Then Diggs contacted Parsons, whom the Cowboys traded to the Packers in late August after an infamous contract standoff.

"Yeah, I called him right away," Diggs said of Parsons. "He's super excited for me, super happy for me. We have a great relationship — our families, our moms, everyone is real close, so it all worked out."

Parsons, the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history and now a five-time Pro Bowler, logged 12.5 sacks in his first 14 games with Green Bay, however, a torn ACL in Week 15 cut his inaugural Packers campaign short.

While the sack artist won't be on the field with Diggs this season, they now share a locker room again. Parsons has offered Diggs a place to crash and a car to drive. He's also provided the corner with some insight about playing for the Packers.

"He told me it's work. It's a lot different," Diggs said. "He said I'm going to like it a lot, and I'm going to enjoy it. So far I've been enjoying it a lot.

"My first day was out there today, and I had a lot of fun, and it's a great thing to be here."

Diggs admitted that blocking out all the noise surrounding him recently has been a challenge. He's focused on moving forward in the New Year.

"I want to be here as long as they want me to be here, for sure," he said. "I like it here a lot. I got relationships here already, and I would love to call this place home."

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