Should the Packers Bring Back Trevon Diggs for 2026?
By GilMartin
When the Green Bay Packers signed free agent cornerback Trevon Diggs to a contract before the season finale last season, everyone knew he was having a brief audition to see whether he could help the team. There was no way the Packers were going to keep him beyond 2025 and absorb his $15 million cap hit. As expected, they released him after the season. But now that the opening wave of free agency has passed and Diggs remains unsigned, should the Packers consider signing Diggs to a team-friendly deal that could bolster the team’s need at cornerback?
Last season, Diggs played one regular-season game with the Packers and made a cameo on defense in the playoff loss to the Bears. He played just 34 defensive snaps. Opposing quarterbacks completed 1-of-2 passes when throwing to receivers covered by Diggs according to pro-football-reference.com and had a quarterback rating of 81.2. Obviously, this is a very small sample size. In the eight games he played for Dallas in 2025 before they released him, quarterbacks completed 77.3 percent of their passes and had a near-perfect quarterback rating of 157.2.
Diggs would help the Packers in some ways. Obviously, the team still has a need at cornerback. The only proven players at the position are Keisean Nixon, who is the number one cover corner by default but is better suited to being CB2. We also have newly added free agent Benjamin St-Juste and Carrington Valentine. Those are the only three experienced boundary corners currently on the roster.
None of those three players would be considered a ball hawk. Nixon had just one interception last season, St-Juste had one (with the Chargers) and Valentine had none. Both Valentine and Nixon dropped numerous potential interceptions because they just lack the hands to complete the catch. St-Juste has only two career interceptions in five NFL seasons.
Diggs has 20 career picks in six NFL seasons, including 11 in 2021 alone when he led the NFL in that category. While he may not be the same player he was five years ago in large part due to injuries, his ball skills alone would add a missing dimension to the Green Bay defense. Remember, in all of 2025, the Packers as a team intercepted just seven passes and only one of those was by a cornerback.
Diggs is also good friends with Micah Parsons. In fact, a recent photo appeared of Parsons and Diggs working out together with Diggs wearing a Packers sweatshirt. Was this a not so subtle message for the Packers front office? Keeping Parsons happy would make sense as he is the team’s best player.
The Packers could also sign Diggs to a reasonable contract, financially. The market for him has clearly not been strong and he remains unsigned. A one-year, prove-it deal for $5-6 million would give him the incentive to play well in 2026. Plus, the Packers wouldn’t be risking much. If Diggs isn’t good enough in training camp, they can always release him, and the only cost would be whatever signing bonus they agree to pay him.
Diggs has the size the Packers like at 6’2” and 195 pounds. His speed was an asset pre-injury, and again, if he’s lost too much speed, he can always be released.
The Packers will likely add a cornerback or two in the 2026 NFL Draft. The earliest they can select a cornerback is the second round as the team traded their first-round pick to get Parsons. Diggs can be a placeholder at cornerback while the rookie gains valuable experience without being asked to do too much, too soon.
Diggs would keep Parsons happy, give the team a different skill set at cornerback and would be a very low risk acquisition. The commitment would be low, and the potential payoff would be higher than the risk. This wouldn’t be a move that would move the needle significantly, but it could reasonably provide the Packers with insurance at a position of need heading into training camp or at least OTAs.
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Comments (27)
Vachio
March 26, 2026 at 06:09 am
He's definitely worth a look. It's a high potential reward, low risk proposition.
Cheezehead72
March 26, 2026 at 06:42 am
Yes they should consider him and I am sure the Packers are talking to his agent. The key is Diggs might be friends with Parsons and he might want to play for the Packers but right now the teams have the advantage in negotiations. I would think Diggs is waiting until after the draft when the player tends to have more leverage because there are teams out there that did not get whet they wanted.
If the Packers want him they might have to meet his demands on the bonus. He does fit into a zone defense better than man and I believe Gannon will run more zone. It depends on the scheme the Packers plan to use as their main scheme.
Guam
March 26, 2026 at 07:38 am
Diggs may or may not be a good addition to the Packers - the FO got a good look at him late last year and should know whether he can help the team or not. My concern is the notion that the Packers should sign him because he is a good friend of Parsons. Didn't we go down that road not too long ago with Aaron Rodgers? And how did that work out?
Sign Diggs only if he helps the team. Not because he is good buddies with a star.
Coldworld
March 26, 2026 at 07:52 am
It also depends on his contract demands. I would wait until after the draft. There are some good CBs in this year’s class that should be available over our first 3 or 4picks. Let’s see how that falls.
golfpacker61
March 26, 2026 at 09:31 am
$6-7 million is way too much for someone that has shown nothing in the last 3 years. Even if it's set up as $4 million plus incentives to get to $6-7, that is not a prove it deal for someone who has been largely unavailable the last 3 years.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 27, 2026 at 08:48 am
There's also the not losing comp picks aspect; sign him after the draft and don't lose any, right?
TKWorldWide
March 26, 2026 at 07:47 am
When GB acquired him, didn’t they just pick up his remaining contract rather than sign him to a new one?
They got a good look at him for the couple weeks he was with them. They should have a pretty good idea of where he’s at physically. If they think he’s worth one year at the 5-6 mil you say, why not kick the tires again? CB is pretty weak right now. But, as the article states, I think post-draft is when something will happen.
Cheezehead72
March 26, 2026 at 08:32 am
They picked him up from the waivers so they were only obligated to pay the remaining 2025 salary and then they released him and owe him nothing.
They could sign him to 5 or 6 million per year but I bet he wants a higher bonus than the Packers are willing to pay. The bonus is paid right away unless it is stipulated to be paid when he makes the team. He does not want to sign a contract unless he is going to get paid right away wether he makes the team or not. Once he signs he has no options.
I believe he is waiting until after the draft unless he gets a really good offer.
greengold
March 26, 2026 at 12:18 pm
Diggs didn't have much of a chance to show what he can do in the Packers defense after only being signed on December 31st, 2025. 33 snaps v. MIN in Week 18 (2 Tackles, both Solo, 1 Comp on 2 Targets), and 1 snap v. CHI in our Wild Card loss (1 Tackle).
Diggs was an All-Pro in 2021, and twice Pro Bowl 2021/2022, and he didn't forget how to play. The fit in Dallas was not a match, and we have to admit that the Cowboys were a bit of a clusterF. It cannot be easy to play for that team.
Definitely worth bringing in as a veteran leader at the right price. Veteran leadership can go a very long way with rookie CB development, and I suspect the Packers will be drafting 2 CBs in April.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 27, 2026 at 08:48 am
I like the idea. Hopefully that doesn't jinx it.
stockholder
March 26, 2026 at 07:58 am
27 - missed time. Expensive.- No
Handsback
March 26, 2026 at 08:09 am
The only reason to bring him back is if he had an injury that was fixable in the short term, pulled muscle or slightly torn ligaments. His brain still works and he knew how to grab interceptions, so under the right conditions...sure bring him in. Otherwise find another candidate for the CB room.
JMHO
golfpacker61
March 26, 2026 at 09:25 am
GB should be interested, but not because he is Parson's friend, Parsons has way over $100 million reasons to be happy in GB. If Diggs is healthy again, and that's the big question, then his on field performance is reason enough to consider him. He would be a great mentor to any young CBs we have, even though he is only 27.
The other big factor along with health, is money. NO, Diggs is definitely not worth $6-7 million per year at this point in his career. He has shown virtually nothing to warrant anything close to that kind of money for the last 3 years. Something like $2 million plus incentives to get to $4 million would be about right, that is an actual prove it deal for a player like Diggs at this point. We shouldn't overpay him just because he had some great seasons in Dallas a long time ago or because he is Parson's friend.
Overpaying Diggs would cost a comp pick too. The better upgrade bargain for GB would be to sign Rasul Douglas for $3-4 million because he is healthy and still better than any CBs we have now. And no loss of Comp.
If not those 2 then I would be inclined to sign a younger CB who has played and started 40 games at boundary CB for under $2 million. Someone who will be available for at least 15 games a year. These types of younger CBs are available; it takes more digging.
I would still be calling the Giants to see if Deonte Banks is available and if so, offer Wicks for him. That could be a great option that costs only a 4th string WR. Banks is also a really good KR too. Maybe the Giants throw in a late pick too because our guy actually plays and they need WRs. We have Shephard, Naylor, & Moore in the wings right now, and the draft as well.
BuckyBadger
March 26, 2026 at 10:05 am
When is the last time he was any good on the field? His performance last year was so bad it got him cut from a Defense that was the bottom of the league.
I don't think Diggs would count vs the comp picks. He was released and last time he was released it was from GB.
golfpacker61
March 27, 2026 at 08:49 pm
Good call Bucky.
"I don't think Diggs would count vs the comp picks. He was released and last time he was released it was from GB." I think you are right but it still has to be a prove deal for a guy that has played very little in 3 years. Under $4 million including incentives, maybe $1 million guaranteed. No one will give him more than that because he is unavailable too much the last 3 years.
dobber
March 27, 2026 at 07:53 am
The Packers have carried 5-6 CB out of camp the last couple years. If they draft 2 CB and presumably carry Nixon, Valentine, and St. Juste, that could leave a spot on the 53...assuming good health. Contracts are coming up...they need to rebuild the CB room toute de suite, and that starts with this draft and UDFA class. Do you give one of those CB spots to a guy who's probably only on a one-year deal?...that's one more roster spot vacating for '27. CBs get hurt, too, and depth is important...who do you shuffle to the PS?
At this stage, though, I think Diggs lingers on the market past the draft, which means he doesn't figure into the comp pick equation. If they keep the guarantees low so he could be a painless cut in August, I don't see any reason contractually at this point not to consider it...after the draft.
That said, they have to determine how he figures into Gannon's coverage schemes. Part of the problem in Dallas was that Eberflus played a zone heavy scheme--most teams are playing a lot more zone, now--and Diggs is more of a man coverage guy, not a zone guy.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 27, 2026 at 08:53 am
You say Diggs is not worth $6MM, and then say he is worth $6MM. Seems like a not well thought out position.
BuckyBadger
March 26, 2026 at 10:03 am
No and this is an easy one for me. This guy was never very good. He had one good year with INTs but even that year he was giving up too much separation and INTs can be luck. He hasn't repeated that performance and last year looked like he didn't belong in the league.
Being friends with Parsons is immaterial and does not matter. This isn't play time with your friends, it is professional football.
golfpacker61
March 26, 2026 at 02:06 pm
11 Ints in 1 year is luck?? That's selling one of the best seasons a CB ever had kind of short isn't it? I wish our DBs had some of that luck.
That said, Yes to Diggs if healthy and if cheap. Has to be both to even consider it.
NFLfan
March 26, 2026 at 10:05 am
I wouldn't entertain either of the Digg's brothers.
GreenandBold
March 26, 2026 at 10:58 am
Friends don’t let washed up friends play corner for the Packers . NO .
LambeauPlain
March 26, 2026 at 11:08 am
The draft is solid with CB prospects and this would be the year to double up, one early...one later.
Make a decision on Diggs post draft. Hard pass if two more CBs are drafted and a few more UDFAs are signed.
And I think Hadden will get a longer look in camp too.
It also depends how Gannon, Babich, and Bullocks evaluate Diggs future NFL CB ability vs the current roster and new arrivals. Those 3 coaches built their NFL resumes coaching DBs.
golfpacker61
March 26, 2026 at 02:08 pm
"The draft is solid with CB prospects and this would be the year to double up, one early...one later."
Gutey needs to work some trade magic because we need 2-3 more picks.
greengold
March 26, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Absolutely! I think it is a no-brainer.
Gman1976
March 26, 2026 at 01:27 pm
A BIG NO since QBs had a near perfect completion record against him.
THESZOTMAN1
March 26, 2026 at 06:03 pm
I dig Diggs.
Sign him!
The Szotman
Turophile
March 26, 2026 at 07:23 pm
Not the worst idea if the price is right.