The New England Patriots may not have been thrilled with the initial returns on their investment in Stefon Diggs. He had a decent season, crossing the 1,000-yard plateau on 85 receptions while scoring 4 touchdowns, but clearly lost a step, and brought distractions away from the field that left some wondering whether the pairing was even worth it.
That's why the front office made what appears to have been a relatively easy decision to cut the cord with Diggs and release him. The veteran wideout was slated to make $23 million next season, and the production didn't match that number. However, all in all, letting him go might actually be just what Diggs needed, even if he didn't know it.
Stefon Diggs Will Land on his Feet in FA Sooner Rather Than Later
The Patriots always knew that Diggs was most likely a short-term gamble, a veteran stopgap, if you will. He wasn't their first option last season; they tried to trade for Brandon Aiyuk in 2024 and were interested in Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin before they stayed with their respective teams. Eliot Wolf and the front office structured the contract so they could move on from Diggs after one season, as they ultimately chose.
Now, Diggs can join a team that truly believes in him and sees him as an integral part of their future, even if he's no longer in his prime. While his market value took a hit -- Spotrac projects his next deal to be worth $13.8 million in average annual salary over two years -- he may wind up with more money in the end because he can sign a longer contract. In all likelihood, the Patriots probably never intended to give him the full $69 million he signed for.
More than that, he will probably play with less pressure to "be the guy" than he would have in New England. Diggs is an aging veteran, and chances are that he won't sign with a Super Bowl contender at this point in his career. He's always been a fierce competitor and has been vocal about his desire to compete for titles, but his priorities might have changed now that he's inching toward the back end of his career.
Playing for a non-contender will allow him to be a primary target, put up big numbers, potentially become a fan favorite -- which hasn't happened for him for a while now -- and cash in his checks. That's all the perks and none of the commitment or downside.
While giving him more freedom to focus on things outside of football might not be a great idea, he might be happier that way. It may not have been ideal, and he'd clearly rather stay in New England to get another chance at a ring. But if that's no longer in the cards, he might as well make the most of his career while he can still collect big bucks from a team looking to add at the wide receiver position.