One of the top remaining players in free agency, wide receiver Stefon Diggs has officially come off the market. First reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Diggs has signed a three-year, $69MM contract to join the Patriots. The deal will include $26MM in guaranteed money. 
Diggs’ new contract is consistent with what he’s been making since 2022, when he signed a four-year, $96MM extension after being traded from the Vikings to the Bills. Following another trade to the Texans, Diggs agreed to a renegotiated deal that would pay him about $1.5MM less and make him a free agent three years sooner, making 2024 a prove-it season for the veteran wide receiver.
Despite being traded to a deeper depth chart in Houston than he competed with in Buffalo, Diggs only saw a slight drop off in production as a Texan. Through eight games, the 31-year-old hauled in 47 catches for 496 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 62 yards per game, just under his rate from 2023 but still on track for a seventh straight 1,000-yard season had he stayed healthy for the full, 17-game year.
Unfortunately for both Diggs and Houston, Diggs suffered an ACL tear midway through the 2024 season, an injury which hindered his market value and left Houston without a key member of the WR room. His absence was later compounded by Tank Dell‘s season-ending injury, one which has put Dell’s 2025 availability in doubt. Buoyed by an incredibly deep group that still included Nico Collins, John Metchie, and Robert Woods, the Texans limped into the playoffs, making short work of the Chargers before getting eliminated by the Chiefs.
Despite the season-ending injury, Diggs proved that he still had the ability to be a top wide receiver in the NFL. There is certainly an added amount of risk with Diggs coming back from the torn ACL, but it appears the Patriots are willing to overlook it, based on the reported numbers. CardsWire reporter Howard Balzer has since insinuated that the report should read that the contract in worth “up to $69MM,” indicating that a good amount of that money will be tied into incentives. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to edit his initial X post to include those two words, “up to.”
This would certainly make sense as teams aren’t apt to offer long-term, big money deals to veterans in their 30’s coming off a season-ending injury. Still, a three-year contract with $26MM of guarantees does seem to suggest a level of dedication to Diggs that is in line with the $23MM per year. Schefter tells us that general manager Eliot Wolf agreed to this deal because Diggs is reportedly on track for a Week 1 return in 2025, after suffering the injury in Week 8 of 2024. Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal seemed skeptical of that recovery timeline, though, calling it “overly aggressive.”
Despite having Nico Collins attached to a lucrative long-term deal, Texans general manager Nick Caserio said last month the team would consider keeping Diggs in the fold on a new contract. No deal developed, leading Diggs to explore his options and take a visit with the Patriots last week. Departing from New England, it appeared that there was no imminent deal between Diggs and the Patriots on the horizon, but later reports clarified that this was just due to a lack of urgency between the two parties.
Regardless, New England has made the move with the intention of providing second-year quarterback Drake Maye with a true No. 1 wide receiver. Diggs joins a young receiving corps that features Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, and Ja’Lynn Polk. Maye also has a pretty dependable stable of tight ends with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper.
The Patriots have been fairly big spenders this offseason, mostly bringing in free agents on the defensive side of the ball like defensive tackle Milton Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis, pass rusher Harold Landry, and linebacker Robert Spillane. Diggs joins other veteran offensive additions in offensive tackle Morgan Moses, center Garrett Bradbury, backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and Hollins.
That is waaaaaay more than i expected
Holy overpay…but they had to break the glass somehow I guess.
Hahahahahaha.. awesome. How angry is he going to be losing to Buffalo twice a year and missing the playoffs? Hopefully his bank account keeps him warm at night.
New England actually beat Buffalo in Week 18, though that didn’t prevent the Patriots from sacking Jerod Mayo an hour after the game.
That CAUSED them to sack him. That W set the entire franchise back a year. They could’ve traded down from 1 and received a haul, and likely still gotten the same guy they’ll end up with.
Are you special?
The Pats starters beat the Bills third stringers 23/16…an absolutely meaningless win. Good job bro.:. Someone give this guy a gold sticker
Bills PS in that game.
And Buffalo didn’t play their starters – they were not playing.
There was no incentive to win. Seeding was locked.
Bills were laughing at the Pats the entire game.
Pats lost the #1 pick bc Mayo wanted to win.
How many rings yall got? Hahahaha
What a poorly run team. Everyone claims they have a ‘franchise QB’ only for them to dump their cap space on the D side of the ball. Then pick up an over the hill, injured, malcontent for WR.
At least in year one, he’s probably going to be the “content” part of “malcontent” because he’s easily going to be the number one option given the cast of characters they’re otherwise going to trot out there. Hunter Henry is probably his only real competition for targets.
Not when they are sub .500. He’ll be mad.
He’s been the obvious #1 on two other teams and forced his way out. He’s a headcase who won’t be happy when the losses start piling up.
Only $26m guaranteed. If he doesn’t fit their needs, it’ll be a short stay.
I’m surprised how many people on here aren’t realizing that. It’s basically a 1 year fully guaranteed deal and then they can cut him for basically nothing.
He’s a diva coming off an ACL tear and he sucks. Pats made some good moves up to this one.
I don’t like the move either, but at least they’re taking a chance and spending the money. We’ll see what happens.
He was on pace for 100 catches and 1000 yards receiving last year. There were no other options for a decent WR. $26M guaranteed isn’t that much.
Imagine saying Diggs sucks lol
Well, this will most likely end Stefon Diggs’ streak of never having played for a losing team, but at least he’s getting a last big payday for it.
Probably the worst recieving core in football last year, assuming he’s lucky and avoids the injury bug he vastly improves their receiving game. Head coach, check. Qb, check. They signed several guys on that defense that will be much better, so when y’all are saying that his streak of never playing for a playoff team will end
I don’t think it’s as guaranteed as you guys are saying, and to top all that they haven’t even hit their draft yet, which whoever they get at 4 is gonna improve that team as well whether it’s defense or offense
I think they’ll improve, but I don’t think they’ll go from 4-13 straight to the playoffs. That’s a huge leap and I think there will easily be seven better teams in the AFC.
2025 schedule for the Pats doesn’t have that many gimmies. They have their division + the AFC North. They play Carolina and the Raiders, two teams they could beat. Maybe the Jets and Giants? I don’t see a 9 win season for them but they should be more competitive and a tougher out.
Forgetting that the Jets beat the Patriots in East Rutherford and should’ve won the reverse fixture in Foxboro.
New England’s 2025 schedule goes division round-robin, AFC North, NFC South, Tennessee, Las Vegas, NY Giants. Most if not all of those games at 1 o’clock.
Good signing. Diggs will see the playoffs in a Pats uniform during this contract.
No he won’t
Only in your dreams…
lol
It’d be a little strange for him to be sitting on his couch in uniform, but whatever makes him happy.
The Bills won that trade, that’s for damn sure. He’ll probably help Maye a lot actually, he’s a perfect route runner and he has great hands. He’s just a locker room cancer.
It depends on this draft if they contend in next few yrs. Also sill habe some hope for Caeden Wallace and Baker under new coaching.
Gives Drake Maye a real chance to do something.
They have Gibson and Stevenson carrying and offering catching options. Hooper and Henry both offer options from TE and now you have a good standout WR to lead that group.
They’ve made changes to the o line to try offer better protection aswell.
Vrabel should be able to do better with the defence.
Should be interesting to see what they do in the draft DL? Edge? Hunter? OT?
Plus they have the extra third round pick
IF the rumors are true and both Ward and Sanders are taken top4, Pats walk away with either Hunter or Carter. Or if Sanders does not go in the top 4, maybe someone gives them something nice to move down so they can take a OT.
I think with Wilson signing with Giants they will be picking Hunter with the third pick and that’s why the pats went after Diggs.
Bingo.
Hahahahahahah
(Breathe)
Hahagahagaga
I never want to pay a WR after age 32.
He will be recovering from ACL, and turning 32 this year. Plus – Drama!
This isn’t a good signing.
Feel like hes on the decline. Good for him though.
Really love everyone acting like the bills are some storied franchise after a few division titles and blowing a handful of playoff games.
Pats have taken obvious steps back after losing an all time QB and head coach but let’s be real here. The patriots could lose every game for the next 6 years and still wipe the floor with the bills “accomplishments”
Can’t wait for the responses to this.
Yes – thats true.
But living in the past seems pretty hollow. It might make you feel warm to remember but has zero bearing in the present.
Which team would you rather be right now?
Pats.
Ok!
You do you.
I’m glade I was wrong on this one I thought he’d go to Dallas with his brother
I really hope they sign another guy like Cooper, Allen, or Lockett because the pats wr core is still trash
Agree, they are not getting a true number 1 in the draft….I have doubts Hunter gets to them and even more doubt he is a number 1 type guy. Add another guy like Cooper or Lockett to give Maye more reliable options, even if they aren’t the best out their anymore. This is a much better move than trading picks for Metcalf and then giving him a big contract….he is a good receiver with in-game issues, not a great one who gets paid $30+ mil a year. Patience is needed by Pats fans, this rebuild will take a few years.
Didn’t the Patriots spend a bunch of money a few offseasons ago and it didn’t amount to anything?
They got a pretty solid return for that money, actually.
Really only Judon and Henry worked out from that FA class
Both sides have an easy out after one year. NE needed to add a veteran WR now they got one.
Schmoney dance go brrrr
Great move by NE provided he’s recovered from the ACL. He’s now moved back up to a WR2, at worst a WR3, in fantasy leagues
This makes Kupp’s deal look all the better for the Hawks. Cooper’s deal is 3/45 million with only $18 million guaranteed. 26 guaranteed for a 31 YO WR coming off a knee injury seems a little high.
I was thinking a one year deal with incentives. Not sure how he got that much.