There are some big discussions to be had this offseason at Cowboys' headquarters, aka 'The Star.'
Those discussions will be centered around Ezekiel Elliott and Tyron Smith's futures with the organization and whether or not to place the franchise tag on Tony Pollard. Plus, decisions need to be made on Dalton Schultz, Donovan Wilson, Connor McGovern and Leighton Vander Esch, who are all set to hit the open market this offseason.
But the most important discussion of all could be the one had about Trevon Diggs' future in Dallas.
Technically, the Cowboys don't have to negotiate with Diggs just yet, as the All-Pro cornerback has one year remaining on his rookie contract. But that would create all sorts of other problems, including a likely holdout that would extend into training camp and the potential of losing him for nothing next offseason. So, you can count on the Cowboys having discussions with Diggs' representation this offseason.
How much is a one-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl cornerback worth on the open market? Let's take a look at the highest-paid corners in the NFL:
1. Jaire Alexander: Packers: Signed a four-year, $81 million extension in May 2022. The contract includes $30 million fully guaranteed.
2. Denzel Ward: Browns: Signed a five-year, $100.5 million extension in April 2022. The contract includes $44.5 million fully guaranteed
3. Jalen Ramsey: Rams: Signed a five-year, $100 million extension in September 2020. The contract includes $43.7 million fully guaranteed.
4. Marlon Humphrey: Ravens: Signed a five-year, $97.5 million extension in October 2020. The contract includes $39.9 fully guaranteed.
5. Marshon Lattimore: Saints: Signed a five-year, $97 million extension in September 2021. The contract includes $44.3 million fully guaranteed.
Digg's asking price hasn't been reported as of yet, but you can bet that such a report is coming with teams allowed to begin negotiating with their own free agents on March 13.
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/1053thefan/sports/dallas-cowboys/stefon-diggs-comments-on-teaming-up-with-brother-trevon" headline="Stefon Diggs on teaming up with brother Trevon Diggs some day: "It's a goal of mine"" image="/media-library/image.jpg?id=63467059"]It's not uncommon that free agent negotiations don't go well in the beginning (see the Cowboys negotiations with Dak Prescott), and 105.3 The Fan's Bryan Broaddus sees that being the case here between the Cowboys and Diggs' camp.
"I kind of feel like they're going to botch the initial negotiations with Diggs," Broaddus said Wednesday on the GBag Nation on 105.3 The Fan. "They're going to draw a line in the sand, and he's going to draw a line in the sand, and maybe there's going to be some bad feelings here.
"I think that maybe when we get to the NFL Combine, when we get to the meetings (on Jerry Jones' bus). ... We're going to hear about early negotiations, and my gut tells me it's going to be line in the sand, and line in the sand. And it's going to start off..."
GBag Nation co-host Eric Chiofalo interjects: "It's going to get a little contentious?
"I think so," Broaddus said.
"The CeeDee Lamb negotiation is going to be easier. Because, maybe, Diggs sees himself as this (type of player), and rightfully so. Diggs really believes that he's one of the elite corners in [the NFL], and the Cowboys think, 'no, you're pretty good, (but) we don't see you as elite.'"
Broaddus went on to say that we could be in for another Bryon Jones type of negotiation, which saw Jones sign with the Dolphins in 2020 after the Cowboys elected not to pay up for their former 2015 first-round pick.
"It harkens back to that time with what they did with Byron Jones. … But I kind of have a feeling that maybe they'll say, 'you know what, we're going to draft these corners. Heck, we found (DaRon) Bland. We'll draft another one at No. 26 in this draft.' ... I just have a feeling that this is going to be a tough negotiation."
Broaddus also gave some thoughts on why he believes the Cowboys will cut Elliott without even offering him a pay cut, why the Odell Beckham Jr. pursuit is just getting started, and much more. Listen to the conversation in the podcast below.
