With Stefon Diggs set to be released after the new league year begins, the New England Patriots face a major WR1 vacancy. As free agency nears, the franchise is expected to sign a star receiver as its main target in 2026.
Patriots Projected to Sign Future Hall-of-Fame WR
On Thursday, March 5, PFSN Analyst Jacob Infante published an article outlining the top 100 free agents this offseason, along with projected contracts and potential landing spots for each player.
Notably, Infante ranked Mike Evans 15th overall and named the Patriots a possible fit. He noted Evans’ drop in production in 2025 but still projected he would earn a one-year deal worth $12 million.
He wrote: “Even with his injury-riddled 2025 and his 32 years, he’s been a star receiver his entire time in the NFL. He was a Pro Bowler in 2024 and, in 2023, led the NFL with 13 receiving touchdowns. Don’t expect a long-term deal for him, but a one-year deal with big incentives could be in play.”
Shifting focus to Diggs, who will be released ahead of free agency, he ranked as the 5th-best free agent. Infante wrote: “There’s reason to understand why the Patriots parted ways with him, with a lot of them coming off the field.”
He added, “On the field, though, Diggs is still playing at an extremely high level. He finished fourth in the NFL in PFSN’s WR Impact Metric, and coming off a torn ACL in 2024, still ended the 2025 season with over 1,000 receiving yards.”
As Infante noted, a significant reason for parting ways with Diggs was due to off-field issues. Additionally, the Patriots reportedly save $17 million with the release, per NFL Analyst Hayden Winks. Still, losing a talent like Diggs leaves a massive hole at the WR position.
With this newfound cap space, the 6-time Pro Bowl WR in Evans becomes an excellent replacement option. Despite posting a 72.1 WR Impact Score and ranking 65th among all receivers, per PFSN, he is as consistent as they come. Most importantly, he profiles as an alpha receiver who can win all over the field.
The need for a player who can work on the outside and make plays down the field was clear last season, especially during the playoff run. While Demario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Kayshon Boutte each excelled in rotational roles, Evans operates as a true number one.
All things considered, signing Evans would not only fill the Diggs void but also help Drake Maye and the Patriots’ offense maintain form in 2026.
