The Patriots are moving on from Stefon Diggs when the new league year starts next week. Although the wide receiver lasted only one season in New England, there is a strong argument for him being one of the team’s best, and most savvy, free agent signings in recent memory.
There are multiple reasons for this, and some of them extend past what he brought on the field this past season. First, we have to talk about the production.
Diggs finished the 2025 season with 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four
touchdowns and produced some big moments especially in the regular season. Diggs finished with 31 receptions and 415 receiving yards, for example in the Patriots’ four primetime games. He also had five overall games with over 100-plus yards receiving, and actually was the team’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Julian Edelman in 2019.
He was the most productive receiver since Edelman, and he was the biggest “star” they’ve had at receiver since, arguably, Randy Moss. He also brought some relevancy back to the Patriots receiving room. Even when he wasn’t super productive, he was bringing coverage his way, which opened up space for the other receivers on the team.
That type of player doesn’t come around every day.
The other, perhaps surprising thing from an outside perspective is that he brought veteran leadership to the team. He was an emotional tone-setter, giving speeches in the huddle before the game, and constantly encouraging his teammates on the sidelines. The Patriots are going to miss his professionalism at practice, and the work that he did with the younger players is going to be invaluable for them moving forward. They are going to miss him in the locker room and as an inspirational guy on the sideline, so they need someone else to step up for them in that role.
Signing Diggs and getting a successful season out of him also proved that the Patriots could support a true No. 1 receiver, and now they have become a place where free agents will want to sign. The past few years, they have been trying to get top receivers to come play for them and those have frequently opted to go to other places with either better teams, climates or tax situations. That should not be happening this year, at least not as frequently.
Obviously, Drake Maye being the MVP runner-up, and Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels both winning awards for their coaching, has something to do with it. Diggs being as successful as he was last season is also a big reason for it.
One other quick note that I didn’t want to leave without mentioning is that things didn’t end well for Diggs in Buffalo, and it frequently doesn’t for star receivers. The Patriots are moving on before there can be any hard feelings, and that is a good thing for all parties involved (although his legal situation cannot be ignored either).
Overall, signing Diggs was still a win.
The Patriots got good production from him, and made themselves a prime destination for receivers in the future, but also left themselves an out in the contract for a soon-to-be 33-year-old wideout. For Diggs, coming off major injury and about to turn 32 was not the most attractive of outlooks. And yet, the Patriots gave him a good amount of money and allowed him to show that he can still be a very good receiver in this league. Depending on legal proceeds, he should be able to cash in with another short contract this offseason.
The Patriots, meanwhile, need to take the money they saved from terminating his deal and reinvest it back into their offense. While Diggs proved himself the total package as far as culture fit and role, the opportunity to upgrade and bring a true top-tier wideout into the fold needs to be taken advantage of.
Parting ways with Diggs helps create said opportunity. A fitting parting gift from a tremendous signing.
