Stefon Diggs has endured a rough stretch filled with disappointment. The wide receiver lost the chance to win a Super Bowl when the New England Patriots lost 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks in February.
Since then, he has faced a number of problems in his life, with his high-profile breakup with rapper Cardi B, and facing court appearances over assault allegations. And now he has another unexpected issue which will add to his previous troubles.
Stefon Diggs released by the New England Patriots
The Patriots took the surprising decision to release wide receiver Diggs after just one season. He had signed a three-year, $63.5 million contract in March 2025, and was valuable contributor to the franchise. He had 85 catches for 1,013 yards and 4 touchdowns in the regular season. Though it wasn’t one of his best seasons statistically, he played an important role in getting them to the Super Bowl.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8)
Oct 5, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (8) walks off the field against the Buffalo Bills after the game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The move was first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on March 4, 2026, and will take effect when the new league year starts on March 11. The decision to do so was shocking, considering Diggs had a healthy relationship with his teammates and had good numbers throughout the season.
The wide receiver was released due to financial reasons, as by cutting him they will avoid a $6 million guarantee becoming fully vested. They will also remove Diggs’ expensive $26.5 million cap hit for 2026, which will free up approximately $16-17 million in salary cap space. They are attempting to reshape their roster, and are targeting younger, cheaper options such as Indianapolis Colts’ Alec Pierce.
The 32-year-old wrote an emotional goodbye on his Instagram story, posting a photo in his Patriots jersey with a heartfelt message that said, “THANK YOU for a hell of a year. We family forever. Until we meet again.” along with his number 8 and a heart emoji. Diggs showed his respect to the Patriots, and it seems he was quite liked at the franchise as well.
Teammates post goodbye messages to Stefon Diggs
A lot of his teammates wrote heartwarming farewell messages to Diggs, signifying how they respected and loved him. Quarterback Drake Maye, who connected well with the wide receiver, led the tributes. He shared a smiling photo of the two together on his Instagram story, and tagged Diggs along with a red heart emoji.
Cornerback Christian Gonzalez wrote a strong message on his Instagram story, saying, “One of the realest nd best teammates ever played with, 1 of 1 for real!” Wide receiver DeMario Douglas also bid farewell via Instagram, writing “4eva love Brudda 🦅”. These messages show that Diggs was both loved and respected by his Patriot teammates.
Stefon Diggs is now an unrestricted free agent, and it remains to be seen where he plays in the 2026 NFL season.