Seahawks Sign Trevon Diggs to One Year Deal After Arnold Donald Delay

SEATTLE, Wash (THN News) - The Seattle Seahawks added a proven but recently injury-limited cornerback to their secondary, signing former Dallas Cowboys standout Trevon Diggs to a one-year contract after putting their planned signing of Arnold Donald on hold.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the agreement, citing a source informed of the situation. Seattle later announced the move and confirmed the corresponding release of wide receiver Julian Hicks.

The signing gives the Seahawks another option in a cornerback room that had become thin in the short term. Arnold, a former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions, is facing eight felony charges in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping. Schefter reported that Seattle still plans to sign Arnold, though he is expected to land on the Commissioner’s Exempt List.

Seattle added depth at cornerback after its Arnold plans were delayed.

Seattle adds Diggs after putting Arnold move on hold

The timing of the move matters as much as the player. Seattle had been preparing to add Arnold, but his legal situation changed the immediate outlook for the defensive backfield.

The Commissioner’s Exempt List would keep Arnold away from game action while the league reviews the matter. That created a short-term roster need for the Seahawks, who were already looking for more support at cornerback.

Diggs gives Seattle an experienced option with a high-end playmaking history. He is not arriving as a long-term building block on a multiyear deal. The one-year structure points to a more immediate purpose: add a veteran cover man, create competition, and give the coaching staff another usable body while the team waits for clarity on Arnold.

Seattle worked out Diggs earlier this week, according to the report. That step suggested the club wanted to evaluate where he stood physically before making a commitment.

The Seahawks also had to clear a roster spot, which led to Hicks being released. Hicks’ departure gives Seattle room to bring in Diggs as the team continues reshaping the back end of its roster.

Diggs brings a rare ballhawk track record

Diggs entered the NFL as a second-round pick out of Alabama and spent six seasons with the Cowboys. At his best, he was one of the league’s most dangerous cornerbacks when the ball was in the air.

His peak came in 2021, when he led the NFL with 11 interceptions. That season made him one of the most recognizable defensive backs in football and helped cement his reputation as a corner who could change a game with one read.

He earned two Pro Bowl selections during his time in Dallas. Those honors came because of his instincts, length, and willingness to challenge throws rather than simply survive in coverage.

That skill set should be attractive to Seattle. The Seahawks have often valued defensive backs who can turn coverage into takeaways. Diggs fits that profile when healthy and in rhythm.

Diggs built his reputation on takeaways and aggressive coverage.

Health and availability remain the key questions

Diggs’ recent career has been shaped less by talent than availability. He suffered a torn ACL early in the 2023 season and struggled to stay on the field after returning.

The concern for Seattle is not whether Diggs has shown NFL-level ability. That part is clear. The question is how close he can get to the version of himself that made plays at a Pro Bowl level in Dallas.

After his Cowboys tenure ended, Diggs was released late in 2025 and claimed by the Green Bay Packers. His stop in Green Bay was brief. He appeared in two games for the Packers, Week 18 and the Wild Card Round, and played just one snap in the playoff loss before being released after the postseason.

That recent usage shows why this signing has a measured feel. Seattle is taking a look at a talented player on a short deal, not making a sweeping bet that he will immediately return to his peak.

For Diggs, the opportunity is clear. A one-year deal gives him a path to reestablish himself, prove he can hold up physically, and show that his ball skills still translate after the knee injury.

For the Seahawks, the risk is limited if the contract is structured like many late veteran additions. The reward is more interesting. If Diggs recaptures even part of his Dallas form, Seattle gets a cornerback who can create turnovers and push the depth chart.

What it means for the Seahawks secondary

Seattle’s cornerback room needed immediate reinforcement once Arnold became unavailable in the short term. Diggs helps fill that gap, though his exact role will likely depend on his conditioning, health, and how quickly he picks up the defense.

The Seahawks can use him in several ways:

• As a veteran outside corner who competes for defensive snaps

• As insurance while Arnold’s status remains uncertain

• As a rotational defensive back who can play in specific matchups

• As a camp and roster competitor if Seattle keeps adding at the position

  
  

The signing does not erase the Arnold situation. It simply gives Seattle a more stable option while that process unfolds.

The club still plans to sign Arnold, according to Schefter, but any move involving a player expected to land on the Commissioner’s Exempt List carries uncertainty. Seattle needed someone who could help now. Diggs fits that need better than a player who may not be available to practice or play.

A short-term move with a clear purpose

The Seahawks are not signing Diggs based only on what he did in 2021. They are also not ignoring that season. Few available cornerbacks have led the league in interceptions, earned multiple Pro Bowl nods, and played starting-level football for a franchise like Dallas.

That mix explains the move.

Seattle needed a cornerback. Diggs needed a chance. The Arnold delay created the opening.

The next step is performance. Diggs will have to show that the workout was not just a snapshot, but a sign that he can contribute on an NFL field again. If he does, Seattle may have found a useful answer at a position where depth can disappear quickly.

If he does not, the one-year deal gives the Seahawks flexibility. That matters for a team balancing immediate roster needs with a complicated situation involving another planned signing.

Diggs gets another chance to show he can still contribute.

For now, the move gives Seattle a veteran corner with real playmaking history and something to prove. It is a practical response to an unsettled depth chart, and it puts Diggs back in position to compete for meaningful snaps.