After Jordan Matthews was released by the Patriots and Stefon Diggs signed a five-year, $72MM extension with the Vikings, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap (on Twitter) notes that timing is everything in the NFL.
Over the last two seasons, Diggs has averaged 13.5 games played, 74 catches, 876 yards, and 5.5 touchdowns. Meanwhile, in Matthews’ final two seasons with the Eagles, he averaged 15 games, 79 receptions, 901 yards, and 5.5 touchdowns. With one year to go on his contract, Diggs inked a deal that will give him $14MM per year in new money. Matthews, meanwhile, is out of a job as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Jets linebacker Dylan Donahue pleaded guilty this week to driving while intoxicated, as Patrick Villanova of NJ.com writes. Donahue, who was arrested for crashing his car while going the wrong way in the Lincoln Tunnel back in February, will have his license suspended for three months and drive with an ignition interlock device for one year. Donahue still has a DUI charge in Montana to deal with and a suspension seems likely once the dust settles.
- Running back Jeremy Hill still has a better chance of making the Patriots‘ final cut than fellow RB Mike Gillislee, Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes. Elsewhere in the mailbag, Kyed says that the odds of a Brandon LaFell reunion are slim after the team signed Eric Decker in free agency. We’d agree with that assessment, but anything is possible while rosters are at the 90-man maximum.
- Bills defensive tackle Adolphus Washington may be in roster trouble.