The Patriots have informed receiver Stefon Diggsthat he will be released when the new league year begins.
Stefon Diggs Instagram
The question is why, and what happens now?
Basically, there were a variety of reasons. Not sure there was just one.
In speaking with team sources, the biggest reason was what you saw on the field in the postseason. Against the better defenses, Diggs, at 32, was limited in how much he could get open and impact the game. And that aspect, combined with other older players like Hunter Henry and Mack Hollins, made the Patriots guardable and not very explosive. The Patriots want to get younger and more dynamic around Drake Maye.
A renegotiation of Diggs' contract, which has $20.6 million in base salary each of the next two seasons, was also an issue. The Patriots wanted to get that settled before free agency and that didn't appear as it would happen. Diggs would have wanted more guaranteed salary as part of that renegotiation, and that's something the Patriots weren't comfortable with considering his off-field issues, which also factored into the decision. The guarantee of $6 million more of his base salary for 2026 was not believed to be a huge factor because that would have been addressed in a renegotiation, which was needed for Diggs to stick on the roster.
The biggest benefit of parting with Diggs now is that the Patriots have now freed up another $21.7 million in cash to spend this offseason. Depending on where the Krafts draw the line on the cash budget, New England could now have more than $60 million more in cash to spend to help the team. It's $60 million if the Krafts allow Mike Vrabel to be over the three-year cash budget by $11 million. If the Krafts approve more, the Patriots would be able to go even further.
The Patriots are going to have to replace Diggs' production, so you expect a bulk of that cash going toward adding another receiver in free agency or via trade — and a formidable boundary receiver would fit better with Maye's strength.
It appears that Colts receiver Alec Pierce will hit free agency, unless he decides at the last minute to re-up with the Colts. That would be a surprise so close to free agency. I would be all for the Patriots taking Diggs' cash and applying it to Pierce. It's very rare that an ascending receiver like the 26-year-old Pierce, who has led the NFL in yards per reception the previous two years despite a rough QB situation, becomes available. It's similar to how Milton Williams made it to free agency last year, and the Patriots weren't afraid to go to the mat to land him. Pierce (6-3, 221 pounds with 4.4 speed) would be the perfect weapon for Maye. As for replacing Diggs as the slot, you can piece that together, including trying Kayshon Boutte inside. Trading for AJ Brownwould be similar, even if he's not the burner Pierce is.
Of course, the Patriots could decide edge is a higher priority — it's No. 1 on the needs list I was readying for tomorrow (now I need to go back over it) — and the Patriots could prefer to use that money on edge with, say, a trade for Maxx Crosby.
My preference is for the Patriots to spend Diggs' money at edge because there are a decent number of options in free agency (Boye Mafe, Khalil Mack, Dre'Mont Jones, Arnold Ebiketie, Malcolm Koonce, AJ Epenesa, Joseph Ossai, Azeez Ojulari) at varying money levels. That is not the case at receiver. After Pierce, you're looking at players like Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Rashid Shaheed, Romeo Doubs, Wan'Dale Robinson and Jalen Nailor, who all have some sort of issue (mostly durability).
