The New England Patriots were shopping hungry, and with a ton of money at their disposal, they decided to spend big on wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Bringing in Mike Vrabel as their new head coach seemed like the perfect move to fix New England’s defense, but the team needed more weapons around quarterback Drake Maye to improve on offense.
By that logic, signing Diggs — a perennial 1,000-yard receiver and four-time Pro Bowler — seemed like a safe bet. However, the money they attached to the deal, $69 million over three years, seemed a bit high for a 31-year-old still working through a torn ACL. But some new details on the contract are finally turning the perception around on the Patriots’ newest wide receiver.
New England Patriots Were Shrewd With Stefon Diggs Contract
Last season, the Patriots ranked 26th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. While some of that was growing pains for Maye as a rookie, a major problem for the squad was the lack of elite playmakers and pass catchers.
Not a single Patriots wide receiver had over 621 receiving yards, with tight end Hunter Henry leading the team with 674 yards — far from ideal numbers. Still, signing a veteran coming off a torn ACL to a $69 million deal didn’t feel like the smartest decision.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the amount on the contract surprised a personnel director as well.
“My feeling was he’d get something similar to what Cooper Kupp got from Seattle (three years, $45 million max), the executive said. “New England made the move, and they have an out after the first year if things don’t go well. But I like Diggs for them.”
The deal was close to being done after the former Buffalo Bills WR visited the team earlier.
“The team was very satisfied with his medicals and thus moved quickly to ink him to a three-year deal worth up to $69 million. Sources have repeatedly said Diggs is ahead of schedule in his ACL rehab and should be ready by Week 1,” Schultz wrote.
However, one key detail in there might be the saving grace the Patriots need. While the full contract is indeed a three-year deal, New England reportedly has an out after the first season if Diggs struggles. Also, only $26 million is guaranteed, so it’s very possible he’ll only receive a fraction of the reported $69 million.
With ample money still left to spend and not many marquee-free agents remaining on the board, taking Diggs — who ranked 41st on PFSN’s list of top 121 free agents this offseason — might not be a terrible idea.
A veteran with experience playing alongside young receivers, Diggs’ pairing with Josh Allen helped elevate the quarterback into a superstar. Perhaps New England is hoping for a similar kind of magic with Maye.
Mike Vrabel Opens Up About Diggs Signing, Hints Patriots Aren’t Done Adding Talent
During an appearance on “Green Light” with Chris Long, Vrabel recently opened up about the decision to splurge on Diggs despite the fact that he’s coming off a torn ACL.
Long noted that the move provides a significant boost for young quarterback Maye. Vrabel agreed, emphasizing the importance of giving Maye as many weapons as possible.
Coach Vrabel on what the addition of Stefon Diggs means for the Patriots pic.twitter.com/AMgQJYbVP1
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight)
“Yeah, just trying to make sure we’re supporting Drake and supporting the football team. And again, this is a highly competitive, confident receiver that’s produced throughout his career and multiple ways [and] play style, right?” Vrabel said.
“He’s got a play strength to him that you see that he can play physical, you know, route craft … good at the catch point, has been good in the red zone. There’s a play style to him that I’ve always appreciated, and that we want to, you know, continue to enhance and make sure that, you know, he’s doing things to help us.
“But it’s just his conversation, his demeanor, his attitude, and his presence have been, you know, great through our conversations. And hopefully, we can continue to add good players.”
As Vrabel noted, the Patriots may not be done adding wide receivers. Patriots color analyst Scott Zolak said on his 98.5 The Sports Hub show “Zolak & Bertrand” that former Seahawks standout Tyler Lockett has been “heavily rumored” around Foxborough.
Lockett, a three-time All-Pro with more than 7,600 career receiving yards, would add speed, veteran leadership, and a slot presence to a receiving room that’s starting to take shape.
In addition to Diggs and potentially Lockett, New England signed Mack Hollins earlier this offseason to a two-year deal. Hollins brings size, blocking ability and special teams value, further rounding out the group.
If the front office can follow through, land another proven veteran at wide receiver, and hit on the right player at No. 3 in the 2025 NFL Draft, it could mark a pivotal moment in New England’s rebuild.
Pats will be bailing on this one….terrible signing and contract!