In one of their first big decisions of the offseason, the New England Patriots released wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
Diggs was a key part of New England’s run to Super Bowl LX last season. In his first season with the team, he became the first Patriots receiver to eclipse the 1,000-yard since 2019 while also emerging as a leading voice in the locker room.
The receiver had a lackluster playoff run, however, and will turn 33 next season as his cap hit was set to spike to $26.5 million. Those factors led to the decision to part ways.
“Just a variety of factors,” executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said Thursday. “Looking at financials, ability, a lot of things go into this, and we have nothing but respect for Stefon. He was an absolute warrior for us, as I said to him multiple times after games, and just really appreciate all his contributions to the team.”
Releasing Diggs with two years remaining on his original three-year, $69 million contract freed up roughly $16 million in cap space for the Patriots — in addition to $22.5 million in cash. Wolf was asked whether restructuring the veteran’s contract was originally a possibility.
“We talked about a variety of options,” he said. “Ultimately, we decided to move froward and we wish him nothing but the best. As we told him when we spoke to him, he was super classy. As we told him, any way we can help out we will.”
With those available resources, the Patriots signed wide receiver Romeo Doubs to a four-year, $68 million contract in free agency. That will not stop the team from continuing to look for upgrades at the wide receiver position. While they have been heavily linked to Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown in trade speculation, the team isn’t completely ruling out a reunion with Diggs down the line.
“I wouldn’t say the door’s closed,” Wolf said. “I mean, again, we’re gonna look through every way we possibly can to help improve the team.”
For now, Doubs will be apart of the group expected to help replace Diggs’ production, according to Wolf. That group also includes current wide receivers on the roster doing more, such as Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and DeMario Douglas. 2025 UDFA Efton Chism III also remains on the roster.
The group’s potential could allow it to outperform last year’s unit, which would be good enough for the Patriots to continue winning games even without a traditional “WR1”.
“I think it’s important to add good players to the team. You know, we were going through this the other day, the whole idea of a number one receiver, like how many of them are there in the NFL? Maybe half the teams have one,” Wolf said. “So, I don’t know if that’s a prerequisite for being a good football team. In my experience, it hasn’t been. I think as long as you have a lot of good players and diverse skill sets like we have, then that stuff kind of takes care of itself.”