Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings
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Stefon Diggs #1 of the Houston Texans.
For the second straight offseason, the Buffalo Bills have the chance to reunite with former All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
And for the second year, fans and team insiders have some very strong opinions on it.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that the New England Patriots were set to release the wide receiver after just one season.
“The Patriots informed four-time Pro Bowl WR Stefon Diggs they’re releasing him after the start of the league year next week, per sources,” Pelissero reported in a post on X.
His release comes as a surprise, as Diggs was just one year into a three-year, $63.5 million contract that he signed last year. Diggs was a top performer for the Patriots, making 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, helping Drake Maye develop into a top-tier quarterback and propelling the team’s run to the Super Bowl.
The move opens the door for a potential return to Buffalo, where the Bills have been without a No. 1 wide receiver since he was traded in 2024. But the team is also facing some sharp warnings about the trouble of a reunion.
Bills Fans Largely Against Idea of Bringing Back Stefon Diggs
Though the Bills have a need at wide receiver and Diggs has a strong track record of success in Buffalo, many fans warned against the idea of bringing him back.
“Before any Bills fans start, the answer is NO. Just no,” one shared in a post on X.
Though Diggs had a productive four seasons with the Bills, his time ended in controversy as the Bills traded him to the Houston Texans after he made a series of cryptic social media posts and a sideline blowup toward Josh Allen in the team’s playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bills have already been connected to some other big-name receivers, with some insiders suggesting they attempt a trade for Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson or make a run at signing free agent Alec Pierce.
Stefon Diggs Says Goodbye to Patriots
Diggs did not appear to harbor any ill will toward the Patriots, sharing a heartfelt message on social media after it was announced that he would be released.
“THANK YOU for a hell of a year,” Diggs wrote. “We family forever.”
Diggs now heads off to an uncertain future. He proved this season that he fully recovered from the torn ACL that cut short his 2024 season with the Texans, but his prospects for free agency remain unclear.
The veteran receiver has some unresolved legal drama surrounding him, facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges stemming from an incident in December where police claim he assaulted a former personal chef.
In a statement through attorney Mitchell Schuster, Diggs denied the charges.
“I don’t think there will be a [plea] deal because I don’t think he is liable or guilty in any way, shape or form,” Schuster said, via ESPN.
Diggs is also facing a civil lawsuit for defamation related to a stolen car.