Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen both trusted their previous encounters with C.J. Gardner-Johnson and the culture they built when deciding to bring the outspoken defensive back in.
Would they–and general manager Ryan Poles–trust the veteran’s recommendation on a potential roster move, specifically for ex-Dallas Cowboys star Trevon Diggs?
They might not need the additional input.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Suggests Bears for Ex-Cowboys CB Trevon Digg
Bears Have Plenty to Offer Former Cowboys Star Trevon Diggs
Gardner-Johnson took note of the Cowboys’ decision to cut Diggs, using only bear and looking eyes emojis as a caption for a quoted post from B/R Gridiron on X on December 30 that asked for potential landing spots.
The 2024 Super Bowl champion’s support is also not the strongest link the Bears have to Diggs. Diggs is healthy and ready to join a team by all accounts.
Diggs played for Bears defensive backs coach Al Harris from 2020 as a rookie through 2024.
During that span, Diggs led the league with 11 interceptions and 2 return touchdowns in 2021, the first of his back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons. Diggs also earned First Team All-Pro honors for that 2021 campaign.
Notably, Gardner-Johnson shouted Harris out during his pre-game introduction on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 17, and the coach has been credited with the Bears’ prowess for picks.
Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright is a walking testament to that.
He is also Diggs’ former teammate, drafted 99th overall to the Cowboys–48 picks after Diggs, the No. 51 overall pick–in 2021. The Bears have battled injuries in the secondary, and a talent such as Diggs rarely becomes available, especially at this late stage of an ongoing season.
Trevon Diggs at Odds With Cowboys Before Being Waived
The Bears would have to be sure that what happened between Diggs and the Cowboys would not be an issue. That is, were they to pursue such a move.
“Multiple sources confirmed that former Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs initially went through proper channels and requested to stay in washington after Christmas Day game and was denied,” DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr. reported on X on December 30. “He the stayed behind with family. He is from the DC area. It was a long weekend. Many coaches and players got away from Dallas after returning home, including cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, who went skiing with his family in Wyoming.”
However, there was significant pushback, including on the framing of Diggs’ request.
“It is extremely unusual for teams to allow someone to not travel back when a hardship isn’t involved. Urban Meyer did it and it was unheard of,” CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reacted.
“As reasonable as Diggs’s request sounds, once a team allows that, all of a sudden a bunch of guys have other reasonable requests. Plenty of coaches and players with family closer to DC than Dallas who didn’t get to skip the team flight back.”
Moreover, there are durability and performance concerns regarding Diggs.
Finances Already Loom Large for Bears
Diggs, 27, is signed through 2028 on a five-year, $97 million contract. He has a $12.1 million cap hit for 2025, which would be prorated for the rest of the season. However, he has hits of $18.4 million, $23.4 million, and $21 million over the next three seasons.
Per the NFLPA’s Public Salary Cap Report, the Bears have $4.6 million in cap space as of Tuesday.
Over The Cap projects them to have $1.2 million next season.
The Bears are not exactly thin at CB, even though they are not whole. They would also not only need Diggs to clear waivers, but to get him on a team-friendly deal as well. As talented an option as Diggs might be, he is a seemingly improbable option for the Bears.