Re-signing Stefon Diggs could be a fun move for the New England Patriots to make. But the fact of the matter is that they don't really need him anymore -- and he doesn't need them.
Taking a gamble on Diggs, who was not even a year removed from an ACL tear, made sense for the Patriots. They were in desperate need of a No. 1 receiver for Drake Maye, and they were probably the only team willing to make the Maryland native that guy. As for Diggs, he needed to prove he still had something left in the tank.
It was a win for both sides last year, and that carried over into the season. Diggs took on a leadership role and exceeded all expectations on the field (85 receptions on 102 targets, 1,013 yards, four touchdowns in 17 games), and the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl for the first time post-Tom Brady/Bill Belichick, and Diggs' presence was a big reason for that (we don't need to talk about what happened in the game).
But things are different now. The Patriots waived Diggs at the start of the offseason (most likely for financial reasons), and they might both be better off for it. New England fans will always appreciate what Diggs brought to the team, but that era is in the past, and it's probably better off staying that way.
Stefon Diggs and the Patriots don't really need each other anymore
The Patriots don't need a No. 1 wide receiver anymore. Not only that, but their receiving room actually looks like a strength for the first time in years.
They acquired A.J. Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles in June and signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract in free agency. On top of that, Kayshon Boutte (assuming he sticks around) took a big leap last year and could be in line for an even better season, and Kyle Williams could turn into something special after showing some flashes as a rookie (like this 33-yard touchdown against the New York Giants).
And from Diggs' perspective, he already showed he still has a lot left in the tank and is more than just a low-risk, high-reward pickup for other teams around the league. He was just the No. 1 receiver on a Super Bowl team, and can help any team looking to compete for a championship next season.
Maybe the door on a Diggs-Patriots reunion shouldn't be shut for good (Boutte could still get traded, injuries can happen, and it can't hurt to have too much depth, especially if the money is right). But as things stand, it might be best for both sides to just move on completely.
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