The New England Patriots need to make a clear decision in the coming days on whether to keep Stefon Diggs with the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, if Eliot Wolf’s latest update on Tuesday is anything to go by, the veteran player may not remain on the roster for the 2026 season.
Stefon Diggs’ Future With the New England Patriots Remains Unclear
At a press conference held before the NFL Combine, the executive emphasized that the Patriots are focused on rejuvenating the roster and prioritizing talent aligned with long-term planning.
“There are certain conversations that are happening,” Patriots reporter Phil Perry quoted Wolf as saying. This stance might suggest that veterans with high contracts or a recent history of injuries, as is the case with Diggs, may not be seen as key players for the coming seasons.
In addition, the emphasis on developing young athletes and the search for greater payroll flexibility suggest that Diggs’ tenure in Foxborough may be shorter than fans initially expected. With the NFL market in constant flux, Wolf’s words serve as a warning that drastic changes in the composition of wide receivers may occur soon.
Eliot Wolf, when asked about Stefon Diggs and the team’s intentions with him moving forward, says he’s not going to discuss specific player contract situations.
“There are certain conversations that are happening.”
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) February 24, 2026
Although the veteran has been an important catalyst for the offense over the past year, his age (32) is viewed with greater caution in New England, leading to a more cautious analysis of the WR’s future.
In addition to his contract situation, which is seen as a major obstacle at this point, Diggs also faces an unresolved legal issue. It is worth remembering that the WR pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of strangulation and a charge of misdemeanor assault and battery, and is scheduled for a pretrial hearing on April 1.
Diggs, who ranks No. 4 in the PFSN WR Impact metric (WRi) with a B+ grade, had a major impact on the Patriots’ success last season, with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards, becoming the first 1,000-yard receiver in New England since Julian Edelman in 2019.
If the franchise chooses to move forward, a lot of work will need to be done to find another high-level player at the position in free agency, with Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts) and A.J. Brown (Philadelphia Eagles) standing out.
Wolf also told reporters that the strategy for the 2026 draft will be best player available. This allows them to avoid the mistake of forcing choices to fill immediate roster gaps after just winning the championship. However, the need to find a great WR who can play alongside Diggs (if he stays) or eventually replace him is evident.
