Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs said goodbye to the organization on his Instagram story. He made a post acknowledging the end of his tenure on Wednesday afternoon.
The Patriots officially released Diggs on Wednesday. There had been social media activity throughout the course of the last week that hinted it may happen. He wiped all of his social media earlier in the week. Then, on Wednesday, the wide receiver unfollowed the Patriots organization on Instagram.
Now, he said goodbye to the Patriots on social media as well.
Stefon Diggs says goodbye to the #Patriots via Instagram:
“THANK YOU for a hell of a year. We family forever❤️”
(📸 stefondiggs IG) pic.twitter.com/ywwpVHd61z
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) March 4, 2026
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
The wide receiver produced at a high level during his time with the team. He recorded 85 catches for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns on the year. He had multiple 100-yard games. Recording five in total. His most memorable game came against the Buffalo Bills on October 5. He recorded 10 receptions for 146 yards.
The wide receiver reached 41 career 100-yard games in week 17 against the New York Jets. This ties him for the third -most among all active players.
His salary would have increased for the 2026 season. He was set to make $6 million on his 2026 salary if he was not released by March 13. This would be on top of his current $26.5 million salary cap hit. The Patriots had a tough decision to make financially, and they ultimately made it.
Patriots Monitoring Options At Wideout
With that being said, the Patriots now need another weapon at wide receiver. One name that has been thrown around in particular is Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz indicated that the Patriots are monitoring the wide receiver and that they are a team to watch for his services.
Ultimately, Diggs was able to fill the veteran role that the Patriots brought him in for. They signed him to a three-year, $60 million contract last March in an effort to add a playmaker to the offense. In addition, he helps be a stabilizing force to the offensive unit, as the Patriots were developing their young wide receiver talent. He became the first 1,000-yard receiver for the organization since Julian Edelman in 2019.
Now, the Patriots must have it in a different direction. There are younger options available on the market. It’s going to be about seeing who fits best and how big the Patriots’ offer can be. Whatever move they make, they need to add a receiver to the room. The Patriots had several wide receivers who were able to play their role last season, as Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Mack Hollins all stepped up in a big way.
Nevertheless, it’s clear that the Patriots need an alpha receiver. A. J. Brown is a name that has been thrown out there as a potential target. Pierce seems more likely at this point in time. However, it’s way too early to count out Brown out as a potential option. Regardless, the Patriots need another playmaker to pair with Drake Maye. Diggs was able to fill that void for one season, but will now be looking to take the next step somewhere else.