The Dallas Cowboys made headlines this past season when they released star cornerback Trevon Diggs - a move that stunned fans across the league but, according to those close to the situation, didn’t come as a shock inside the building.
While Diggs’ on-field talent has never been in question, it’s what happened off the field that reportedly led to the split. Cowboys legend and former Pro Bowl cornerback Everson Walls recently shed some light on the decision during an interview with 105.3 The Fan, suggesting that the root of the issue wasn’t performance, but culture fit.
“There are some relationships that you think you can handle more than you thought,” Walls said. “There are some relationships that are up and down.”
Walls didn’t mince words when it came to Diggs’ commitment to the team ethos. “I’m sure Trevon thought that this was going to work out, but you’ve got to do your part,” he added.
“There are rumors that he wasn’t doing that, and I’m not talking about on the field, necessarily. I’m talking about buying into the culture of the team.”
That culture - one the Cowboys have worked hard to cultivate under head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn - has become a central pillar of the franchise’s identity. Accountability, communication, and unity have been key talking points in recent years. And when a player, no matter how talented, doesn’t align with that vision, it can create a fracture that’s tough to repair.
Diggs’ handling of his knee injury reportedly added fuel to the fire. The team was said to be frustrated that he didn’t consult their medical staff during his rehab process. He spent most of the 2025 season on injured reserve, and even when he returned, he didn’t look like the All-Pro version of himself that fans had come to expect.
Walls’ comments suggest that the disconnect went beyond just injury management. It was about trust - or the lack of it - between player and organization. And once that trust eroded, the relationship never fully recovered.
From a football standpoint, cutting a player of Diggs’ caliber is never easy. He’s a ballhawk with elite instincts, and when healthy, he’s one of the most dangerous corners in the league.
But NFL teams are built on more than just talent. They’re built on chemistry, communication, and a shared commitment to the bigger picture.
For the Cowboys, the decision to move on from Diggs wasn’t about one moment - it was the culmination of a relationship that had been fraying for some time. And in a league where locker room culture can be just as important as scheme, the Cowboys made a call they felt was necessary to protect the fabric of their team.
Now, the focus in Dallas shifts to the future. Replacing Diggs won’t be easy, but if the Cowboys believe they’ve strengthened their locker room in the process, they’ll live with the football consequences. Because in today’s NFL, culture isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a competitive advantage.